Screening of micro-organisms producing lipase and the crude extract immobilization for application in biodiesel production

• Grant number: 11/17312-0
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): December 01, 2011
• Effective date (End): July 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Enzymology
• Principal researcher: Valéria Marta Gomes de Lima
• Grantee: Luiz Edson Aguiar Loiola
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Letras (FCL-ASSIS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Assis. Assis , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Lipases (EC 3.1.1.3) are enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of ester bonds in aqueous system. In addition, these enzymes are also capable of performing reverse reactions, ie synthesis reactions when aqueous-restricted environments. This shows a great versatility of this class of enzymes, making them interesting for various industries such as pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, leather, paper, waste treatment, processing of oils and fats, and food industries, cosmetics and in biodiesel production. The lipases can be obtained from plant, animal or micro-organisms, however the latter is preferable because it allows greater control of influential parameters in the production process, such as pH and temperature. The present study aims to select micro-organisms in order to apply the lipolytic enzyme in transesterification reactions. To do this, will be studied strains of filamentous fungi and bacteria from the culture collection of the Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Department of Biological Sciences, UNESP, Assis - SP. The micro-organisms are grown in shaken flasks and enzyme activity is evaluated. The enzymes produced will be tested in relation to immobilization by adsorption on Celite ® 545 and applied in the transesterification reaction with both synthetic substrate (p-nitrophenyl palmitate and methanol), and the natural substrates (olive oil or crambe and methanol).