Processes and systems for catalytic manufacture of wax ester derivatives

A process for modifying a viscosity of a finished product including catalytically transesterified wax esters, the process comprising:

• providing a feedstock comprising wax esters;
• introducing into the feedstock an alcohol with a carbon number ranging from 1 to 34 carbons, the alcohol introduced at a concentration of 0.01% to 2.5% by weight of the feedstock;
• after introducing the alcohol into the feedstock, contacting the feedstock with a lipase;
• catalytically transesterifying the wax esters in the feedstock with the lipase to form a transesterified product;
• and
• increasing a viscosity of a finished product including the transesterified product as an ingredient of the finished product.

A process for modifying a viscosity of a finished product including catalytically transesterified wax esters, the process comprising:

• providing a feedstock comprising jojoba wax esters;
• introducing into the feedstock oleyl alcohol;
• after introducing the oleyl alcohol into the feedstock, contacting the feedstock with a lipase;
• catalytically transesterifying the jojoba wax esters in the feedstock with the lipase to form a transesterified product;
• increasing a viscosity of a finished product by including the transesterified product as an ingredient of the finished product.