US Patent 7557228 Production of wax esters

Wax esters are prepared by reacting a solution of palm oil in an organic solvent with oleyl alcohol in the presence of an immobilized lipase wherein molar ratio of palm oil to oleyl alcohol is between 1:2 and 1:4. Immobilized lipase used is present in an amount which is equivalent to not less than 1000 μg of protein per milli-mole of palm oil used and the reaction is carried out at 40° C. to 50° C. for a period of not less than 5 hours. The organic solvent used has a value of log P not less than 3.5.