Biodiesel Production Using Lipase from Oil Palm Fruit as a Catalyst

Abstract

This study aimed to extract and characterize lipase from oil palm after 0-240h of harvesting. In addition, the application of lipase as catalyst for biodiesel production was also evaluated. Lipase was extracted and purified by Tris-base buffer (pH 8.0) and the aqueous two phase system (ATPS), respectively. The highest protein at 1.96mg/gat was obtained from oil palm fruit at 0h of harvesting. However, the highest lipase activity at 0.98 Units (1.38 Unit/mg protein) was achieved from palm oil after 120h of harvesting. Afterwards, lipase was collected and purified by ATPS using PEG 1000 under the variation of salts. After purification, lipase activity was increased significantly to 4.76 Unit/mg protein using PEG and NaH2PO4. Therefore, purified lipase was utilized as catalyst for biodiesel production using the transesterification method and the partial properties of biodiesel from lipase were also determined. The biodiesel from lipase had an acid value and free fatty acid content at 0.45mg/g KOH and 0.21%, respectively. The properties of biodiesel were also compared with commercial biodiesel. Interestingly, the acid value and free fatty acid content of biodiesel from lipase were not significantly different from commercial biodiesel and it also passed Thailand's fuel standards.