Enzymatic biodiesel production from Manilkara Zapota (L.) seed oil

Abstract

Oil obtained from the seeds of Manilkara zapota (L.) was transesterified with methanol using lipases as biocatalysts. Four commercially available lipases, such as, porcine pancreas, Candida rugosa, Pseudomonas cepacia and Candida antarctica-B were used for biodiesel preparation. Novozyme-435 (C. antarctica lipase-B immobilized on acrylic resin) and CLEA (cross-linked enzyme aggregate) of C. antarctica lipase-B were compared for their biodiesel production potential. Under optimized reaction conditions, Novozyme-435 gave 96% biodiesel yield in 12 h; whereas, CLEA of C. antarctica-B gave 84% yield of biodiesel. Novozyme-435 was reused for six cycles and 72% biodiesel was formed at the end of 6th cycle. The deactivated Novozyme-435 was regenerated by incubating it in soybean oil, 2-butanol and tert-butanol