Conference article

Recently; there has been considerable attention in the direct use of intracellular lipase as a whole-cell biocatalyst (indirect immobilization of the enzyme) for biodiesel production since immobilization can be carried out spontaneously during the process of cell cultivation. In this research the ability of Rhizopus oryzae (ATCC 9374) whole-cell biocatalyst that was immobilized within biomass support particles (BSPs) was investigated and compared with Novozym 435 (most effective extracellular immobilized lipase) for methanolysis of soybean oil in solvent free system. The maximum methyl esters content in the reaction mixture reaches 84 wt% using R.oryzae whole-cell biocatalyst in optimum condition (6mm×6mm×3mm BSPs size; olive oil as carbon sources in basel medium; emulsification using ultrasonicated of reaction mixtures; 15 wt% water content and 7 wt% immobilized BSPs; addition of methanol at 0; 4 and 18 h) and at reaction time of 48 h which is remarkably comparable with yield of biodiesel at 90 wt% obtained with Novozym 435. Both the lipases can be used for repeated batches cycles. These findings indicate that; given the simplicity of the lipase production process and the long-term stability of lipase activity; the use of whole-cell biocatalysts immobilized within BSPs and treated with glutaraldehyde solution suggest a favorable means of biodiesel fuel production for industrial application.

Biodiesel; Whole-Cell Biocatalyst; Rhizopus oryzae; Novozym 435