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Enzymatic Synthesis of Biodiesel via Alcoholysis of Palm Oil

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Abstract

The enzymatic alcoholysis of crude palm oil with methanol and ethanol was investigated using commercial immobilized lipases (Lipozyme RM IM, Lipozyme TL IM). The effect of alcohol (methanol or ethanol), molar ratio of alcohol to crude palm oil, and temperature on biodiesel production was determined. The best ethyl ester yield was about 25 wt.% and was obtained with ethanol/oil molar ratio of 3.0, temperature of 50 °C, enzyme concentration of 3.0 wt.%, and stepwise addition of the alcohol after 4 h of reaction. Experiments with 1 and 3 wt.% of KOH and 3 wt.% of MgO were carried out to compare their catalytic behavior with the enzymatic transesterification results. The commercial immobilized lipase, Lipozyme TL IM, showed the best catalytic performance.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Cenpes/Petrobras for financial support and Novozymes Latin America Ltda for kindly providing the enzyme for this research. Dr. Marta A.P. Langone would also like to thank the Programa Prociencia/UERJ.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Química, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, PHLC, sl. 427, CEP: 20559-900, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    André L. F. Matassoli, Igor N. S. Corrêa, Cláudia O. Veloso & Marta A. P. Langone

  2. Centro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Leopoldo A. Miguez de Mello-Petrobras-Cenpes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Márcio F. Portilho

Authors
  1. André L. F. Matassoli
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  2. Igor N. S. Corrêa
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  3. Márcio F. Portilho
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  4. Cláudia O. Veloso
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  5. Marta A. P. Langone
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Correspondence to Marta A. P. Langone.

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Matassoli, A.L.F., Corrêa, I.N.S., Portilho, M.F. et al. Enzymatic Synthesis of Biodiesel via Alcoholysis of Palm Oil. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 155, 44–52 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-008-8424-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-008-8424-8

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