Enzymatic Synthesis of Esters from Fatty Acids U.S.-Morocco Collaborative Research

小行星9415532 产品描述： 该项目支持两名美国科学家的合作项目，他们是夏洛茨维尔弗吉尼亚大学化学工程系的John Gainer博士和Giorgio Carta博士，以及摩洛哥拉巴特穆罕默德五世大学穆罕默德工程学院的Ahmed Zaidi博士。 初步研究结果表明，在有机介质中，酶可以合成由醇和脂肪酸制成的酯。 计划的工作旨在确认这些结果，并将该方法扩展到其他酯的合成。 这些酯由于其良好的生物降解性和低毒性特性而在食品、化妆品和制药工业中具有重要的应用。 在计划的工作中，第一阶段将集中在油酸与短链醇的反应，使用脂肪酶。第二阶段将强调油酸与长链醇的反应，以产生用作增塑剂和润滑剂的高分子量酯。 范围：该项目符合国际方案司的一些重要目标。 它允许三位活跃的科学家合作，他们的能力相互补充，做重要的科学工作;它允许发展中国家的外国科学家获得必要的经验，在本项目之后继续进行这项有用的研究，并为美国和工业化程度较低的国家的重要行业提供可能是新的有用产品的科学基础。 ***

9415532 Gainer Description: This project supports a cooperative project by two U.S. scientist, Drs. John Gainer and Giorgio Carta, both in the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, and Dr. Ahmed Zaidi, Ecole Mohammadia d'Ingenieurs, Universite Mohammed V, in Rabat, Morocco. Preliminary research results indicate that esters made from alcohols and fatty acids can be synthesized using enzymes in organic medium. The planned work aims at confirming these results, and extending the method to the synthesis of other esters. These esters have significant applications in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries because of their good biodegradability and low toxicity properties. In the planned work, the first phase will focus on the reactions of oleic acid with short-chain alcohols, using lipase enzymes. The second phase will emphasize the reactions of oleic acid with long-chain alcohols to produce high molecular weight esters which have uses as plasticizers and lubricants. Scope: This project meets a number of important objectives of the Division of International Programs. It allows cooperation of three active scientists whose capabilities complement each others to do important scientific work; it allows for a foreign scientist in a developing country to gain the experience necessary to continue this useful research beyond this project, and it provides the scientific basis for what may be new useful products in important industries in the U.S. and in less industrialized countries. ***