Enzymatic synthesis of sucrose octaacetate using a novel alkaline protease.

Acylation of 0.5 g sucrose with 1.2 ml acetic anhydride was carried out in 2 ml two-solvent medium of anhydrous pyridine/n-hexane (1:1, v/v) using 0.2 g crude protease from Serratia sp. Sucrose octaacetate was the sole product and more than 90% sucrose was converted in 24 h at 30°C. The purity of sucrose octaacetate reached 100%, via a simple purification method of alcohol/water washing and centrifugation.