Development of low-cost national technology for enzymatic production of biodiesel: production, characterization and applications of fungal lipases

• Grant number: 11/19279-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2012
• End date: March 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Enzymology
• Principal Investigator: Luciana Francisco Fleuri
• Grantee: Luciana Francisco Fleuri
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Biodiesel is a renewable energy source that represents a fuel alternative from petroleum, natural gas and coal. Biodiesel production and later consumption of this product can reduce dependence of petroleum and may help reduce air pollution and create jobs in the primary sector. Biodiesel production have been made by transesterification, called methanolysis, of oil using alkali catalyst under high temperatures for long periods, which resulting in large consume of energy and it creates problems related to the recovery of glycerol. An alternative route to produce biodiesel is bases on enzymatic process that is specific and controlled, allowing the synthesis of specific products. Using this process, the glycerol recovery is facilitated and can be performed at low temperature and pressure, for short periods of time. Lipases, due the higher versatility, can be used in the hydrolysis process followed by esterification and alcoholysis reactions for the biodiesel production. So, the present studies will focus in create a low-cost biocatalysts processes to obtain biodiesel. This proposal will study fungal lipase by solid state fermentation using different substrates as wheat bran, soybean bran and sugar cane bagasse; concentration of lipases with ammonium sulfate, ethanol and acetone; biochemical characterization of best enzymes for pH and temperature optimum and stability and on the specificity of lipases on fatty acid carbon chain with different sizes. Lipases home-made and commercial (Lipozyme TL IM and Novozym 435) will be test in hydrolysis and synthesis reactions (esterification and alcoholysis). (AU)