Jet cutter as tool to immobilize lipase for biodiesel production

Ana Silvia Prata Soares,Beatriz Travalia,Marcelo D'Elia Feliciano,Marcus Bruno Soares Forte

doi:10.20396/revpibic262018953

Ana Silvia Prata Soares, Beatriz Travalia + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.20396/revpibic262018953

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Abstract

The use of lipases as a biocatalyst for industrial applications is an interesting route due to technical aspects but also to reduce environmental impacts caused by the use of chemical catalysts. Gel immobilization of the enzyme allows its reuse and avoids contamination of the product with residual portions of free enzyme. However, a typical technique available for enzyme immobilization is based on dripping driven by gravity which produces big particles and low rate of production. The reduction of size can improve the mass transfer by increasing the contact area. Thus, aiming to increase the rate of particles production and reduce the size of particles, the objective of this work was to encapsulate lipase, using a tool designed to cut the jet produced by pumping, called as Jet Cutter.

Highlights

Enzymes, used as esterification catalysts for oils and fats, may be used in free or immobilized form
As lyophilized particles (2% alginate) showed considerably higher activity than non-lyophilized one, only lyophilized particles were analyzed for enzymatic activity with 1.5% alginate
It is observed that the particles with 1.5% of alginate presented a superior activity, demonstrating that the immobilization by jet cutter was favorable to formation of a more active biocatalyst

Summary

Introduction

Enzymes, used as esterification catalysts for oils and fats, may be used in free or immobilized form. The use of the immobilized enzyme favors an economic gain in the process, because it allows reuse of the biocatalyst and avoids product contamination with residual portions of free enzyme (JEGANNATHAN et al, 2010). The formation of the particles by ionic gelling causes positive results in the stability of the enzymes (JEGANNATHAN et al, 2009). The challenge of developing a scalable, smaller particle-producing process can be overcome with the use of the Jet Cutter, which can reduce the particles to diameters smaller than 1 mm (PAULO et al, 2017)

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Results

Conclusion