Production of biodiesel by enzymatic catalysis from the castor oil: an analytical chemical study

Abstract

The study aimed at the development of a method for obtaining biodiesel by transesterification by via methylic from castor oil using biocatalysts. Seven varieties of lipase (PPL, Candida rugosa, OS cepacea, OS cepacea immobilized on diatomaceous earth, Novozyme 435, Lipozyme and Lipozyme RM) and seven enzymatic sources from a vegetable origin (latex of the species Ficus benjamina, Manihot glaziovii Muell. Arg., Calotropis procera, Jatropha curcas L., Ficus pumila, Euphorbia tirucalli L.) were tested. Enzymatic sources of plant origin were submitted, initially, the hydrolytic activity tests to evaluate their potential as biocatalysts and, from the results obtained, two samples were selected for the experiments further synthesis of biodiesel. Validation of the method of production of biodiesel evaluated linearity, reproducibility (precision), recovery (accuracy) and the limits of detection and quantification. Among the sources of enzymes used in the synthesis of biodiesel presented the best result was the commercial enzyme Novozym 435 with 55.33% conversion yield of biodiesel in initial tests. Were conducted new tests for optimization of reactional parameters co-solvent, alcohol: oil ratio, amount of enzyme and solvent for recovery of the enzyme, which enabled a maximum yield of biodiesel to 98.84%.