Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
1158882 
Journal Article 
Improvement in lipase-catalyzed synthesis of fatty acid methyl esters from sunflower oil 
Soumanou, MM; Bornscheuer, UT 
2003 
Yes 
Enzyme and Microbial Technology
ISSN: 0141-0229 
Elsevier Science, The Boulevard Langford Lane Kidlington Oxford OX5 1GB UK, [mailto:nlinfo-f@elsevier.nl], [URL:http://www.elsevier.nl] 
NEW YORK 
33 
1 
97-103 
English 
WOS:000183967800014 
Biodiesel as alkyl esters derived from vegetable oils has considerable advantages in terms of environmental protection. In the present work, methyl esters were produced from sunflower oil by lipase-catalyzed reactions. The effect of organic solvent on alcoholysis rate was investigated and highest conversion (80%) was found in n-hexane and petroleum ether. Among several microbial lipases tested for alcoholysis activity in a solvent-free system, the best conversion (>90%) was found with lipase from Pseudomonas fluorescens (Amano AK) at the highest molar equivalent of oil:methanol (1:4.5). To reduce inactivation of commercial immobilized lipases by methanol, a three-step protocol consisting of the stepwise addition of 1 M equivalent of methanol at 5 h intervals, was developed. Also with immobilized lipase from Rhizomucor miehei (Lipozyme RM IM) high conversion (>80%) was possible. Moreover, the transesterification could be conducted for at least 120 h during five batch runs without significant loss of activity. 
methyl esters; biodiesel fuel; sunflower oil; lipase immobilization; stability; organic solvent 
IRIS
• Methanol (Non-Cancer)
     Search 2012
          WOS
          ProQuest