Sustainable Ester Synthesis Using Eversa Transform 2.0 Immobilized on Tamarind-Derived Hydrogel Support

The increasing demand for sustainable processes has encouraged the development of efficient and eco-friendly biocatalytic systems. Enzyme immobilization enhances stability, reusability, and industrial applicability. Tamarind-derived hydrogel is an attractive support due to its biodegradability, low cost, porosity, and biocompatibility. Eversa Transform 2.0 lipase (ET2) was selected for its high activity in organic media, efficiency in esterifying free fatty acids, and limited prior use in immobilization systems. This study developed a tamarind hydrogel–immobilized ET2 (TH/ET2) biocatalyst and evaluated its performance in synthesizing methyl and ethyl butyrate. The system retained enzymatic activity (82.26 U·g–1 within 24 h), exhibited improved thermal stability and reusability, and achieved high conversions within 4 h (90.70% for methyl butyrate, 90.05% for ethyl butyrate). The biocatalyst remained stable over 30 cycles, with conversions above 87%. These findings highlight TH/ET2 as a promising, low-cost, and sustainable alternative for industrial biocatalysis, particularly in flavor and fragrance applications.