Biodiesel synthesis from palm fatty acid distillate using enzyme immobilized on magnetic nanoparticles

Abstract

The present study deals with the esterification of palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) using immobilized lipase on magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) to produce biodiesel in a cleaner and more environmentally friendly way. Commercially available lipase CALB EX was used for immobilization of lipase on MNPs. The effect of various reaction parameters including the methanol-to-PFAD molar ratio, biocatalyst loading, reaction temperature, and agitation speed was examined using a one-factor-at-a-time approach. Maximum PFAD conversion of 82.74% was achieved under mild reaction conditions, with a methanol-to-PFAD molar ratio of 1.6:1, biocatalyst loading of 8 wt% (lipase content 0.45 wt%), agitation speed of 150 rpm, reaction temperature of 50 °C, and reaction time of 10 h. The catalytic activity of MNP-CALB EX was compared with commercial Amberlyst-15 under similar reaction conditions. It was observed that MNP-CALB EX achieved 2.6-fold higher conversion than Amberlyst-15. The reusability of the immobilized biocatalyst was also tested to determine cost feasibility. It was observed that the immobilized biocatalyst could be used up to five cycles, with residual conversion of 80.19% in the fifth cycle.

Non‐catalytic esterification of palm fatty acid distillate with 2‐ethyl hexanol for high purity production of biolubricant ester

“…The optimal agitation at 100 rpm was achieved because the external mass transfer diffusion resistance was the least at that speed, resulting in the reaction rate and FFA conversion increasing. The need to optimize the agitation speed of different feedstocks due to their varying physical properties was supported by the fact that the optimal agitation speeds reported for biodiesel derived from sunflower and PFAD with methanol was 120 rpm and 200 rpm, respectively 38–40 . The subsequent studies employed the optimal reaction conditions of 100 rpm, PFAD:2EH of 1:2, and 180 °C or the energy required to achieve 100% FFA conversion.…”

“…The need to optimize the agitation speed of different feedstocks due to their varying physical properties was supported by the fact that the optimal agitation speeds reported for biodiesel derived from sunflower and PFAD with methanol was 120 rpm and 200 rpm, respectively. [38][39][40] The subsequent studies employed the optimal reaction conditions Time (min) of 100 rpm, PFAD:2EH of 1:2, and 180 °C or the energy required to achieve 100% FFA conversion.…”

Bio-Derived Catalysts: A Current Trend of Catalysts Used in Biodiesel Production

“…Studies have reported that high water content (from the feedstock and/or generated from the esterification of alcohol and fatty acid) not only promotes the reverse reaction but also negatively affects the lipase activity (including the formation of lipase-lipase aggregates in aqueous media), thus reducing the biodiesel production efficiency [183]. To address this obstacle, several adsorbents such as superabsorbent polymer, silica gel, alumina, and molecular sieve have been used to remove the water from the reaction mixture, enhancing the reaction efficiency [183,212,213].…”

Immobilization of Lipase B from Candida antarctica on Magnetic Nanoparticles Enhances Its Selectivity in Kinetic Resolutions of Chiral Amines with Several Acylating Agents

“…Their superparamagnetic properties allow magnetic decantation, so MNPs can be easily removed from the reaction mixture [32,33]. Apart from the utilization in the KR or DKR of enantiomer compounds, CaLB-MNPs are also used in biodiesel synthesis [34,35], transesterification reactions [36], or even utilized in a magnetic crosslinked inclusion body form [37]. But, to the best of our knowledge, there are no reports of the utilization of MNPs in the KR or DKR of amines, except in one study with a magnetic hybrid catalyst containing lipase and palladium applied in the DKR of (±)-1-phenylethan-1-amine [38].…”