ARS | Publication request: SYNTHESIS AND APPLICATIONS OF BIOCATALYTICALLY DERIVED UV ABSORBING VEGETABLE OILS

Submitted to: Royal Society of Chemistry Meetings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: December 13, 2005
Publication Date: December 13, 2005
Citation: Compton, D.L., Laszlo, J.A., Isbell, T., Behle, R.W., Kurth, T.L. 2005. Synthesis and applications of biocatalytically derived UV absorbing vegetable oils [abstract]. Royal Society of Chemistry Meetings. p. 026.

Technical Abstract: New and expanded markets are needed for commodity vegetable oils as a result of their over production. New uses for these oils can be applied once they have been modified to enhance their functional (physical/chemical) properties. Cost-effective and environmentally benign processing technologies must be investigated in order to identify strategies for generating high-value products from vegetable oils. This research details how vegetable oils have been biocatalytically esterified with the natural plant component ferulic acid to form all natural ultraviolet (UV) absorbing oils. The lipase-catalyzed esterifications were typically conducted using the vegetable oil as the solvent at moderate temperatures. Unreacted starting material and byproducts were removed by molecular distillation and recycled to form additional product. The UV absorbing vegetable oils have been studied for potential use as an all natural replacement for synthetic sunscreen active ingredients, as a natural UV protectant for insecticidal biocontrol agents, and as a bio-based industrial lubricant. These potentially new and expanded markets for commodity vegetable oils will enhance the profitability of small- and medium-sized agribusinesses.