The Enzymatic Production of Biodiesel from Pomace Oil Using Immobilized Thermomyces lanuginosus

Abstract

In the present work, microbial lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus was immobilized by covalent binding onto styrene-divinylbenzene polyglutaraldehyde copolymer. Immobilized support material was used to produce biodiesel with pomace oil and methanol. The properties of the support and immobilized derivative were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. Biodiesel production was carried out with a semi-continuous operation system. Methanol was added into the reactor by three successive additions of 1:6 molar equivalent of methanol to avoid enzyme inhibition. The maximum methyl esters yield was obtained as 98%.