Biocatalytic behaviour of immobilized Rhizopus oryzae lipase in the 1,3-selective ethanolysis of sunflower oil to obtain a biofuel similar to biodiesel

Molecules. 2014 Aug 4;19(8):11419-39. doi: 10.3390/molecules190811419.

Abstract

A new biofuel similar to biodiesel was obtained in the 1,3-selective transesterification reaction of sunflower oil with ethanol using as biocatalyst a Rhizopus oryzae lipase (ROL) immobilized on Sepiolite, an inorganic support. The studied lipase was a low cost powdered enzyme preparation, Biolipase-R, from Biocon-Spain, a multipurpose additive used in food industry. In this respect, it is developed a study to optimize the immobilization procedure of these lipases on Sepiolite. Covalent immobilization was achieved by the development of an inorganic-organic hybrid linker formed by a functionalized hydrocarbon chain with a pendant benzaldehyde, bonded to the AlPO4 support surface. Thus, the covalent immobilization of lipases on amorphous AlPO4/sepiolite (20/80 wt %) support was evaluated by using two different linkers (p-hydroxybenzaldehyde and benzylamine-terephthalic aldehyde, respectively). Besides, the catalytic behavior of lipases after physical adsorption on the demineralized sepiolite was also evaluated. Obtained results indicated that covalent immobilization with the p-hydroxybenzaldehyde linker gave the best biocatalytic behavior. Thus, this covalently immobilized lipase showed a remarkable stability as well as an excellent capacity of reutilization (more than five successive reuses) without a significant loss of its initial catalytic activity. This could allow a more efficient fabrication of biodiesel minimizing the glycerol waste production.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biocatalysis*
  • Biofuels*
  • Enzymes, Immobilized*
  • Lipase / metabolism*
  • Magnesium Silicates / chemistry
  • Plant Oils / chemistry*
  • Rhizopus / enzymology*
  • Sunflower Oil

Substances

  • Biofuels
  • Enzymes, Immobilized
  • Magnesium Silicates
  • Plant Oils
  • Sunflower Oil
  • magnesium trisilicate
  • Lipase