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Biocatalytic Synthesis Of Diethanolamide Surfactants Under Mild Reaction Conditions, Galilee Uy Semblante, Modesto Tan Chua, Soma Chakraborty

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Synthesis of fatty acid diethanolamide was carried out by the condensation of diethanolamine with lauric acid, decanoic acid and octanoic acid in the presence of Novozym 435. The influence of solvent, time, temperature and agitation on the reaction rate was studied. Formation of lauroyl diethanolamide was complete in 6h in acetonitrile at 50° C whereas in toluene the reaction was not complete in 6h. Increase of reaction temperature from 50° C to 70° C increased the reaction rate. Proper agitation of the reaction mixture enhanced the reaction rate. Reaction in solution appeared to be more efficient than the reaction in …