1. Determine the optimum conditions for the synthesis of lactose lauryl esters. </P>
2. Investigate the antimicrobial properties of lactose lauryl esters.
Carbohydrate fatty acid esters are nontoxic, biodegradable compounds that are used in the food and pharmaceutical industries for its emulsifying and foaming properties, antimicrobial activity, or as an insecticide. The antimicrobial activity of esters has been demonstrated against several food spoilage bacteria that promote dental caries. </P> This proposal investigated the synthesis and antimicrobial activity of lactose lauryl esters which is derived from two nutrients in milk: lactose sugar and laurate (a fatty acid). This study confirmed that Gram-positive bacteria such as Streptococcus, Listeria, and Mycobacterium were destroyed at low concentrations of LML and SML, but Gram-negative bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella were more tolerant of this compound.