Liquid lipase-mediated production of biodiesel from agroindustrial waste

Abstract Decreasing in fossil fuel reserves and its adverse environmental effects motivate the development of the biofuels production, such as biodiesel. Animal fats residues, generated by agro-processing industries in large quantities, can be considered a low-cost raw material for conversion to alkyl esters (biodiesel). This study aims to evaluate the production of biodiesel (fatty acid methyl esters – FAME) from enzymatic catalysis applying the novel commercial lipase in liquid formulation NS-40116 obtained from the modified Thermomyces lanuginosus microorganism, using residual chicken oil as feedstock. The reaction parameters “oil to methanol molar ratio”, “water content” and “temperature” were investigated through a statistical design. At 200 rpm during 36 h, enzymatic catalysis (0.3 wt% of lipase to residual chicken oil) presented the most appropriate condition at 35 °C, 2 wt% of water content and oil to methanol molar ratio of 1:4, yielding 93.16% in FAME. Therefore, the recovery of that waste was satisfactorily performed in feasible conditions, producing a less environment-harmful biofuel.