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Coating and lubricant products

Epoxides are useful building blocks in organic synthesis. Oleochemical epoxides and glycidyl ethers have several applications, among which is their use as cross-linkers in surface coatings. Production of these epoxides by lipase mediated chemo-enzymatic synthesis has been performed in which the enzyme catalyses the formation of peracid from carboxylic acid and hydrogen peroxide and thereafter the oxygen is spontaneously transferred to the double bond. Rapeseed methyl ester and tall oil fatty acids have been epoxidized using immobilized lipase under solvent-free conditions with high product yields. Epoxidation of linseed oil has also been performed and the product tested by Akzo Nobel Surface Coatings in a coating application. Bioprocess optimization for epoxidation of oils is being performed. Optimal conditions for epoxidation of allyl ether have been determined to provide high yields of glycidyl ether. The lipase suffers loss of activity in this reaction due to oxidation by the peroxide. Mass spectrometry is being used to determine the amino acids in the enzyme that are susceptible to oxidation.

Supervisors: Rajni Hatti-Kaul, Bo Mattiasson
Researchers: Dietlind Adlercreutz
PhD students: Ulrika Törnvall, Pär Tufvesson, Anna Petersson

Polyester acrylates are attractive coating materials for wooden surfaces. During 2006 the approach of combining chemical synthesis of a polyester with subsequent enzymatic acrylation has been evaluated. The use of the enzymatic step is beneficial since acrylic acid is very reactive. Using enzymes, mild reaction conditions can be applied and therefore polymerization and other side reactions can be minimized. A few different polyester acrylates were prepared and subsequently used for wood coating. Evaluation of the coatings indicated several good properties, although not yet quite good enough to fulfill all the requirements.

Supervisor: Patrick Adlercreutz
Researcher: Mathias Nordblad