Biodiesel production with special emphasis on lipase-catalyzed transesterification

Abstract

The production of biodiesel by transesterification employing acid or base catalyst has been industrially accepted for its high conversion and reaction rates. Downstream processing costs and environmental problems associated with biodiesel production and byproducts recovery have led to the search for alternative production methods. Recently, enzymatic transesterification involving lipases has attracted attention for biodiesel production as it produces high purity product and enables easy separation from the byproduct, glycerol. The use of immobilized lipases and immobilized whole cells may lower the overall cost, while presenting less downstream processing problems, to biodiesel production. The present review gives an overview on biodiesel production technology and analyzes the factors/methods of enzymatic approach reported in the literature and also suggests suitable method on the basis of evidence for industrial production of biodiesel.

Applied Biocatalysis with an Organic Resistant Partially Purified Lipase from P. aeruginosa During FAME Production

“…This might be the reason for showing different activity on different oil substrates. Thus, there is a need for optimizing the process [24].…”

Enzymatic Production of Biodiesel from Microalgal Oil using Ethyl Acetate as an Acyl Acceptor

“…In other reports, optimum ratios of ethyl acetate to oil were 12:1 and 11:1, respectively, when various vegetable oils were used as the substrate 17,18 . In the present study, crude microalgal oil contained different kinds of complex compounds that include polar lipids wax esters, sterols and hydrocarbons such as tocopherols, carotenoids and terpenes and phytylated pyrrole derivatives such as chlorophylls 22 . Therefore, this can be considered as a -viscous substrate, and it seems that higher amounts of ethyl acetate are necessary to improve the transesterification reaction.…”

Enzymes and Ionic Liquids: a Promising Combination Towards a Clean Biodiesel

“…43 As lipases podem catalisar reações de hidrólise, alcoólise, acidólise, esterificação e transesterificação. 37 As lipases podem ser encontradas em tecidos de animais e plantas, podendo também ser produzidas por microorganismos. A escolha da fonte de lipases para aplicações industriais deve levar em consideração a possibilidade de utilização de mono-, di-e triglicerídeos, a utilização de ácidos graxos livres, baixa inibição pelo produto, alta atividade em meio aquoso e não-aquoso, potencial de utilização continuada, estabilidade frente a agentes distorcionantes e.g.…”