Alcoholysis of olive oil for producing wax esters by intracellular lipase in immobilized fungus cells

Alcoholysis of olive oil was carried out with lauryl and palmityl alcohols for producing wax esters. The reaction can be catalyzed efficiently by cell-bound lipase of Rhizopus niveous fungus cells immobilized within cellulose biomass support particles. Influences of reaction conditions such as water content, temperature, and substrate concentrations on reaction rates and yields were investigated.