Biodiesel fuel production by the transesterification reaction of soybean oil using immobilized lipase

The enzymatic alcoholysis of soybean oil with methanol and ethanol was investigated using a commercial, immobilized lipase (Lipozyme RMIM). The effect of alcohol (methanol or ethanol), enzyme concentration, molar ratio of alcohol to soybean oil, solvent, and temperature on biodiesel production was determined. The best conditions were obtained in a solvent-free system with ethanol/oil molar ratio of 3.0, temperature of 50 degrees C, and enzyme concentration of 7.0% (w/w). Three-step batch ethanolysis was most effective for the production of biodiesel. Ethyl esters yield was about 60% after 4 h of reaction.     

Highly efficient production of nootkatone, the grapefruit aroma from valencene, by biotransformation

Nootkatone, the most important and expensive aromatic of grapefruit, decreases the somatic fat ratio, and thus its demand is increasing in the cosmetic and fiber sectors. A sesquiterpene hydrocarbon, (+)-valencene, which is cheaply obtained from Valencia orange, was biotransformed by the green algae Chlorella species and fungi such as Mucor species, Botryosphaeria dothidea, and Botryodiplodia theobromae to afford nootkatone in high yield.     

Choice of temperature for safflower oil hydrolysis catalyzed by Candida rugosa lipase

This work studies safflower oil hydrolysis catalyzed by Candida rugosa lipase as a function of temperature in an oil-in-water emulsion stabilized by the surfactant sodium deoxycholate. The choice of temperature for this reaction is dictated by the effects of temperature not only on the catalytic activity and stability of the enzyme but also on the state of the reaction medium (emulsion), whose quality substantially affects both the kinetic parameters of lipase and the product (linoleic acid) yield. For example, although the highest initial rate of the enzymatic reaction is observed at 40°C and the enzyme is virtually not inactivated during incubation (45°C), the highest reaction yield is observed at 30°C and decreases upon temperature elevation because of a change in the emulsion quality.     

Deacylation studies on furanose triesters using an immobilized lipase: synthesis of a key precursor for bicyclonucleosides

Lipozyme TL IM immobilized on silica catalyses the deacylation of 4-C-acyloxymethyl-3,5-di-O-acyl-1,2-O-(1-methylethylidene)-beta-L-threo-pentofuranose to form 3,5-di-O-acyl-4-C-hydroxymethyl-1,2-O-(1-methylethylidene)-alpha-d-xylo-pentofuranose in a highly selective and efficient manner.     

Efficient generation of a trisporoid library by combination of synthesis and biotransformation

Trisporic acids and their biosynthetic precursors represent a family of powerful fungal pheromones and morphogenetic factors. A highly flexible synthetic protocol is described that (i) provides rapid access to nonfunctionalized early trisporoids from beta-ionone, (ii) includes a regiospecific oxidative functionalization of beta-ionone leading to 1-acetoxy-beta-ionone giving access to functionalized trisporoids, and (iii) utilizes a biotransformation of early synthetic trisporoids by growing cells of Blakeslea trispora to prepare late trisporoids including trisporic acids. The same protocol also provides deuterium-labeled trisporoids such as trisporin B [2H3]-19. Administration of [2H3]-19 to growing cells of the (-)-mating type of B. trispora resulted in the formation of the labeled trisporols [2H3]-20 and [2H3]-21. Growing cultures containing both mating types can be used to prepare trisporic acids from early precursors.     

The enzymatic hydrolysis of used frying oil by native lipase

The enzymatic hydrolysis of used frying oil catalyzed by native lipase ofNigelk sativa seed was investigated under different conditions to elucidate the role of different process parameters on the reaction rate. Data fitted the first-order rate equation.     

Esterification for butyl butyrate formation using Candida cylindracea lipase produced from palm oil mill effluent supplemented medium

The ability of Candida cylindracea lipase produced using palm oil mill effluent (POME) as a basal medium to catalyze the esterification reaction for butyl butyrate formation was investigated. Butyric acid and n-butanol were used as substrates at different molar ratios. Different conversion yields were observed according to the affinity of the produced lipase toward the substrates. The n-butanol to butyric acid molar ratio of 8 and lipase concentration of 75 U/mg gave the highest butyl butyrate formation of 63.33% based on the statistical optimization using face centered central composite design (FCCCD) after 12 h reaction. The esterification potential of the POME based lipase when compared with the commercial lipase from the same strain using the optimum levels was found to show a similar pattern. It can be concluded therefore that the produced lipase possesses appropriate characteristics to be used as a biocatalyst in the esterification reactions for butyl butyrate formation.     

Novel penicillins synthesized by biotransformation using laccase from Trametes spec

Eight novel penicillins were synthesized by heteromolecular reaction of ampicillin or amoxicillin with 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid derivatives using a laccase from Trametes spec. All products inhibited the growth of several gram positive bacterial strains in the agar diffusion assay, among them methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci. The products protected mice against an infection with Staphylococcus aureus lethal to the untreated animals. Cytotoxicity and acute toxicity of the new compounds were neglectable. The results show the usefulness of laccase for the synthesis of potential new antibiotics. The biological activity of the new compounds stimulates intensified pharmacological tests.     

Identification of aroma active compounds in orange essence oil using gas chromatography-olfactometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Using GC-MS and GC-flame ionization detection (FID)/olfactometry, 95 volatile components were detected in orange essence oil, of which 55 were aroma active. In terms of FID peak area the most abundant compounds were: limonene, 94.5%; myrcene, 1%; valencene, 0.8%; linalool, 0.7%, and octanal, decanal, and ethyl butyrate, 0.3% each. One hundred percent of the aroma activity was generated by slightly more than 4% of the total volatiles. The most intense aromas were produced by octanal, wine lactone, linalool, decanal, beta-ionone, citronellal, and beta-sinensal. Potent aroma components reported for the first time in orange essence oil include: E-2-octenal, 1-octen-3-ol, Z-4-decenal, E,E-2,4-nonadienal, guaiacol, gamma-octalactone, and m-cresol. Over 20 compounds were identified for the first time in orange essence oil using MS, however, most did not exhibit aroma activity.     

Biodiesel production and comparison using commercial lipase and chemical catalyst from Cassia auriculata oil

In this present investigation, Cassia auriculata was explored as a feedstock for production of biodiesel. Transesterification reaction was performed by both enzyme (lipase) and chemical (potassium hydroxide) catalyst with diverse acyl acceptors such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, n-propanol, butanol, n- butanol, and finally their biodiesel yield were also recorded. Process optimization was performed by both one factor at a time method and response surface method. The maximal biodiesel yield of 92% (weight/weight) was obtained at the following optimal conditions: Oil:Methanol molar ratio of 1:6 (moles/moles), the lipase concentration of 2% (weight/weight), at 35 ?°C and 120 ?min. The highest biodiesel yield from Cassia auriculata oil was occurred with excess methanol that aids the equilibrium shift in the forward direction. The kinetics of the transesterification reaction was investigated under optimal conditions and the activation energy was found to be 14.91 ?kJ/mol. Simultaneously Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectroscopy was also carried out for the biodiesel produced from Cassia auriculata and the same has been reported. The GC analysis declares the existence of fatty acid esters like hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, methyl stearate and the peak with retention time 12.8 ?min signifies the evidence of hexadecanoic acid methyl ester with 28% of yield content. This investigation also evaluated the biodiesel quality produced from lipase-transesterified Cassia auriculata oil based on fuel properties. Biodiesel properties Flash Point (FC), Pour Point (PP) and kinematic viscosity were compared with American (ASTM 6751) and European (EN 14214) Standards. Cassia auriculata oil had PP 6.7 ?°C and Kinematic viscosity (813 ?kg/m³) that agreed with both the standards. Thus this study showed that Cassia auriculata oil could be a better fuel alternative with further improvement of fuel properties.     

Probing of lipase activity at air/water interface by sum-frequency generation spectroscopy

The infrared-visible sum-frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy was used to probe enzymatic activity of Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase (TLL) at air/water interface. A monolayer of amphiphilic O-palmitoyl-2,3-dicyanohydroquinone (PDCHQ), containing target ester group and two CN groups serving as vibrational markers, was utilized as an enzyme substrate. SFG data revealed the detailed molecular scale structure and properties of the PDCHQ layer at the interface. In particular, we demonstrate that hydrophilic headgroup of PDCHQ is mainly in the form of an oxyanion, and the enzyme-induced cleavage of the ester bond could be spectroscopically monitored by the disappearance of the intense C tripple bond N resonance at 2224 cm(-1). The enzymatic nature of the ester bond cleavage was confirmed by the control experiments with deactivated S146A mutant variant of TLL. By comparing action of wild type (WT) TLL and its inactive S146A mutant, it was shown that two effects take place at the interface: disordering of the lipid monolayer due to the adsorption of enzyme and enzymatic cleavage of the ester bond. The concentration of enzyme as low as 10 nM could be easily sensed by the SFG spectroscopy. We present spectroscopic evidence that upon hydrolysis one of the products, 2,3-dicyanohydroquinone, leaves the surface, while the other, palmitic acid, remains at air/water interface in predominantly undissociated form with the mono-hydrogen-bonded carbonyl group. Strong amide I (1662 cm(-1)) and amide A (3320 cm(-1)) SFG signals from TLL suggest that enzyme molecules position themselves at air/water interface in an orderly fashion. Presented work demonstrates the potential of SFG spectroscopy for in situ real-time monitoring of enzymatic processes at air/water interface.     

Study of immobilized candida rugosa lipase for biodiesel fuel production from palm oil by flow microcalorimetry

Enzymatic transesterification of palm oil with methanol and ethanol was studied. Of the four lipases that were tested in the initial screening, lipase Candida Rugosa (CR) resulted in the highest yield of mono alkyl esters. Lipase CR was further investigated in immobilized form within an activated carbon as support. The activated carbon was prepared by activation physical. Using the immobilized lipase CR, the effects of water and alcohol concentration, enzyme loading and enzyme thermal stability in the transesterification reaction were investigated. The optimal conditions for processing 50 g of palm oil were: 37 °C, 1:14.5 oil/methanol molar ratio, 1.0 g water and 500 mg lipase for the reactions with methanol, 35 °C, 1:15.0 oil/ethanol molar ratio, 1.0 g water, 500 mg lipase for the reactions with ethanol, and 35 °C, 1:10.0 oil/n-butanol molar ratio, 1.0 g water, 500 mg lipase for the reactions with ethanol. Subject to the optimal conditions, methyl and ethyl esters formation of 70 and 85 mol% in 1 h of reaction were obtained for the immobilized enzyme reactions. The flow microcalorimetry is an important and novel techniques is used in evaluation of biodiesel production.     

Copper-catalyzed imination of pyridines using PhINTs as nitrene precursor

The reaction of PhINTs with pyridines in the presence of a catalytic amount of Cu(II) triflate afforded the corresponding p-tolylsulfonyliminopyridinium ylides in excellent yields.     

A new approach for radon monitoring in soil as an earthquake precursor using optical fiber

Temporal variations of radon concentration in soil before the earthquake are known as an earthquake precursor. For using of radon as an earthquake precursor, it is necessary to constantly monitor radon concentration variations in a relatively wide range in the vicinity of a fault which is virtually impossible for radon detectors that already exist. This paper proposes a new method for continuous measurement of radon concentration variations in a wide range, using optical fiber as radon detector. For this purpose, an experimental system consisting of radon source, optical-fiber holding chamber, radon gas detector, optical laser source, and optical power meter have been arranged to with the aim to create different concentrations of radon gas in the vicinity of the optical fiber; the attenuation which creates on optical fiber is subsequently measured. As a result, the average of the attenuation is 0.004 μw per each meter per Bq/l since the fault’s length is more than ten kilometers; sensitivity of the measurement can be improved many times over.     

天然铁矿石为氧载体的生物质化学链气化制合成气实验研究

在一个小型鼓泡流化床反应器上以Ar气为流化介质,对以天然铁矿石为氧载体的生物质化学链气化制合成气过程进行了研究。考察了反应温度对合成气组分、气体产率、碳转化率以及气化效率的影响,反应时间对合成气组分的影响;探讨了氧载体存在对生物质气化过程的影响。结果表明,天然铁矿石可以作为生物质化学链气化制合成气反应过程的氧载体,代替富氧空气或高温水蒸气作为生物质气化的气化剂;随着温度的升高,产物气体中CO、H₂的浓度逐渐增加,CO₂、CH₄浓度缓慢降低;随着反应时间的延长,合成气中H₂、CO、CH₄的相对浓度缓慢增加,而CO₂相对浓度逐渐降低;氧载体的存在能显著提高气体产率和碳的转化率及气化效率。扫描电镜-能谱(SEM-EDS)分析表明,当超过850 ℃时,铁矿石氧载体颗粒表面烧结现象明显,但反应前后,颗粒表面的成分及含量基本保持不变。     

Fungal strains as catalysts for the biotransformation of halolactones by hydrolytic dehalogenation with the dimethylcyclohexane system

Bicyclic chloro-, bromo- and iodo-γ-lactones with dimethylcyclohexane rings were used as substrates for bioconversion by several fungal strains (Fusarium, Botrytis and Beauveria). Most of the selected microorganisms transformed these lactones by hydrolytic dehalogenation into the new compound cis-2-hydroxy-4,6-dimethyl-9-oxabicyclo[4.3.0]- nonan-8-one, mainly the (-)-isomer. When iodo-γ-lactone was used as the substrate, two products were observed: a hydroxy-γ-lactone and an unsaturated lactone. The structures of all substrates and products were established on the basis of their spectral data. The mechanism of dehalogenation of three halolactones was also studied.     

Supercritical fluid extraction as a preparative tool for strawberry aroma analysis

To improve the aroma characterization of various strawberry cultivars, we tested supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) to determine its suitability for the extraction of aroma compounds from fresh fruit, comparing SFE results with traditional solvent extraction with dichloromethane. Using SFE it was possible to recover the majority of the aroma compounds which can be also found in the solvent extract; patterns related to variety and degree of maturation were preserved. Our results showed, however, that SFE is more selective and was able to recover the ‘character impact’ compound of wild strawberry. Our findings from the odor analysis of furaneol standard emphasize the importance of using a more selective extraction procedure, and always combining instrumental detection with sensory analysis.     

Facile synthesis of gold nanoparticles with narrow size distribution by using AuCl or AuBr as the precursor

Gold(I) halides, including AuCl and AuBr, were employed for the first time as precursors in the synthesis of Au nanoparticles. The synthesis was accomplished by dissolving Au(I) halides in chloroform in the presence of alkylamines, followed by decomposition at 60 degrees C. The relative low stability of the Au(I) halides and there derivatives eliminated the need for a reducing agent, which is usually required for Au(III)-based precursors to generate Au nanoparticles. Controlled growth of Au nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution was achieved when AuCl and oleylamine were used for the synthesis. FTIR and mass spectra revealed that a complex, [AuCl(oleylamine)], was formed through coordination between oleylamine and AuCl. Thermolysis of the complex in chloroform led to the formation of dioleylamine and Au nanoparticles. When oleylamine was replaced with octadecylamine, much larger nanoparticles were obtained due to the lower stability of [AuCl(octadecylamine)] complex relative to [AuCl(oleylamine)]. Au nanoparticles can also be prepared from AuBr through thermolysis of the [AuBr(oleylamine)] complex. Due to the oxidative etching effect caused by Br(-), the nanoparticles obtained from AuBr exhibited an aspect ratio of 1.28, in contrast to 1.0 for the particles made from AuCl. Compared to the existing methods for preparing Au nanoparticles through the reduction of Au(III) compounds, this new approach based on Au(I) halides offers great flexibility in terms of size control.