BACKGROUNDThe current processes used to produce 6-O-L-ascorbyl stearate are mature but far from environmentally benign. Even in the enzymatic process, a water-washing step is still indispensable, forming a large amount of waste water. The aim of this study is to improve understanding of the behavior of the reaction mixture formed during enzymatic synthesis of ascorbyl stearate and create a novel product purification method omitting the water-washing step. RESULTSAdding hot methyl stearate (65 degrees C) will liquefy the solidified mixture composed of 6-O-L-ascorbyl stearate, L-ascorbic acid and methyl stearate, the filtrate of almost pure methyl stearate could be reused, and the cake gained could be washed and recrystallized from ethyl acetate at 4 degrees C to gain the pure 6-O-L-ascorbyl stearate. The single recovery rate of 6-O-L-ascorbyl stearate is 66.0%, the purity of it is 99.8% detected by LC/MS. CONCLUSIONTaking advantage of the phase behavior and the solubility differences of 6-O-L-ascorbyl stearate, L-ascorbic acid and methyl stearate in ethyl acetate at different temperatures, it is possible to produce 6-O-L-ascorbyl stearate in an environment-friendly way. The process developed in this study is easy to scale up and suitable for the synthesis of similar 6-O-L-ascorbyl derivatives of other fatty acids, such as palmitic acid. (c) 2015 Society of Chemical Industry