Biodiesel synthesis in a solvent-free system by recombinant Rhizopus oryzae Lipase : study of the catalytic reaction progress

Abstract

The recombinant 1,3-positional selective Rhizopus oryzae lipase (rROL) was used to synthesize biodiesel and monoacylglycerols simultaneously. The reaction was carried out in a solvent-free system with the enzyme immobilized on octadecyl-Sepabeads. Using response surface methodology, the methyl ester yield was optimized by means of the study of the effect of water, substrate molar ratio (methanol:olive oil) and methanol stepwise addition. It was concluded that in order to prevent enzyme inactivation by methanol, alcohol should be added slowly; otherwise a large amount of water would be present. Taking the best conditions, a 50.3 % yield was achieved in 3 h, which corresponds to 75.4 % of the acyl groups at the 1,3-position undergoing transesterification. It was also concluded that methyl esters result from the esterification of the free fatty acid hydrolyzed by the enzyme and also from a direct transesterification of oil. In addition, the fatty acid selectivity of rROL was found not to favor one fatty acid in olive oil over another.