ARS | Publication request: Pilot-plant Scale Synthesis of a Soy-based Sunscreen

Submitted to: American Oil Chemists' Society Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: October 17, 2004
Publication Date: May 1, 2005
Citation: Compton, D.L., Laszlo, J.A. 2005. Pilot-plant scale synthesis of a soy-based sunscreen [abstract]. American Oil Chemists' Society. p. 21.

Technical Abstract: An environmentally benign sunscreen active ingredient can be derived from two natural plant components, ferulic acid and triglycerides. Transesterification of the ferulic acid ethyl ester with soybean oil produces a mixture of feruloylated monoacyl-and diacylglycerols that have strong ultraviolet-A and –B absorbency. The reaction is catalyzed by immobilized Candida antartica lipase B in a two-liter recirculating, fixed enzyme bed reactor. Production capacity of the sunscreen active ingredient has been increased to one liter per week. The influence of operating conditions on the service life of the enzyme has been investigated, and methods to convert unreacted starting material and byproducts to product have been developed.