Mechanism of esterification of alcohol using banana pulp disks was investigated. The alcohols, mainly
iso-amyl, alcohl were added to the disks in the form of solution (infiltration method) or vapor. Conversion of
isoamyl alcohol to acetate was not observed with mature-green banana while it occurred sharply in the course of ripening of fruits. The conversion was supposed to be enzymatic reaction, and some inhibitors (monoiodoacetate, sodium azide), N
2 atmosphere, soaking in water depressed the rate of esterification considerably. When banana pulp was homogenized, the reaction stopped and, on the contrary,
iso-amyl acetate added was hydrolized rapidly. The addition of ATP and CoA did not show any effect on esterifiication, while the addition of acetic acid immediatly increased iso-amyl acetate production. Rapid esterification of added alcohol vapors (C
3 iso-C
4, C
4,
iso-C
5, C
5) took place on pulp disks.
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