Biodiesel Synthesis via Esterification of Feedstock with High Content of Free Fatty Acids

The objective of this work was to study the synthesis of ethyl esters via esterification of soybean oil deodorizer distillate with ethanol, using solid acid catalysts and commercial immobilized lipases, in a solvent-free system. Three commercially immobilized lipases were used, namely, Lipozyme RM-IM, Lipozyme TL-IM, and Novozym 435, all from Novozymes. We aimed for optimum reaction parameters: temperature, enzyme concentration, initial amount of ethanol, and its feeding technique to the reactor (stepwise ethanolysis). Reaction was faster with Novozym 435. The highest conversion (83.5%) was obtained after 90 min using 3 wt.% of Novozym 435 and two-stage stepwise addition of ethanol at 50°C. Four catalysts were also tested: zeolite CBV-780, SAPO-34, niobia, and niobic acid. The highest conversion (30%) was obtained at 100°C, with 3 wt.% of CBV-780 after 2.5 h. The effects of zeolite CBV 780 concentration were studied, resulting in a conversion of 49% using 9 wt.% of catalyst.     

Synthesis of isoamyl laurate and isoamyl stearate in supercritical carbon dioxide

The synthesis of isoamyl laurate and isoamyl stearate was studied in supercritical carbon dioxide with three lipases, Novozym 435, Lipolase 100T, and Candida rugosa. The maximum conversion of 37% and 53%, respectively for isoamyl laurate and isoamyl stearate was obtained when Novozym 435 was used. The effect of various parameters such as molar ratio of alcohol to acid, presence of water, time and temperature was investigated. An optimum temperature of 40–45°C was observed for all reactions. The kinetics of reactions was fast and equilibrium was achieved in 2–3 h. Although the presence of excess alcohol did not reduce conversion, excess water reduced conversion significantly.     

Enzyme catalyzed production of biodiesel from olive oil

Biodiesel (fatty acid methyl esters) was produced by transesterification of triglycerides (triolein) present in olive oil with methanol and Novozym435. The effect of the molar ratio of methanol to triolein, semibatch (stepwise addition of methanol) vs batch operation, enzyme activity, and reaction temperature on overall conversion was determined. Stepwise methanolysis with a 3:1 methanol to triolein molar ratio and an overall ratio of 8:1 gave the best results. The final conversion and yield of biodiesel were unaffected by initial enzyme concentrations greater than 500 U/mL olive oil. The optimum reaction temperature was 60 degrees C. Comparison of conversion data between a test-tube scale reactor and a 2-L batch reactor revealed that the difference in conversion was within 10%. Experiments were also carried out with used cooking oil; the conversion with used cooking oil was slightly lower but no major differences were observed. The efficacy of Novozym435 was determined by reusing the enzyme; although the enzyme's relative activity decreased with reuse, it still retained 95% of its activity after five batches and more than 70% after as many as eight batches.     

Polyesters from Macrolactones Using Commercial Lipase NS 88011 and Novozym 435 as Biocatalysts

The demand for environmentally friendly products allied with the depletion of natural resources has increased the search for sustainable materials in chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Polyesters are among the most widely used biodegradable polymers in biomedical applications. In this work, aliphatic polyesters (from globalide and ω-pentadecalactone) were synthesized using a new commercial biocatalyst, the low-cost immobilized NS 88011 lipase (lipase B from Candida antarctica immobilized on a hydrophobic support). Results were compared with those obtained under the same conditions using a traditional, but more expensive, commercial biocatalyst, Novozym 435 (lipase B from C. antarctica immobilized on Lewatit VP OC). When NS 88011 was used in the polymerization of globalide, longer reaction times (240 min)—when compared to Novozym 435—were required to obtain high yields (80–90 wt%). However, higher molecular weights were achieved. When poly(ω-pentadecalactone) was synthesized, high yields and molecular weights (130,000 g mol^?1) were obtained and the enzyme concentration showed strong influence on the polyester properties. This is the first report describing NS 88011 in polymer synthesis. The use of this cheaper enzymatic preparation can provide an alternative for polyester synthesis via enzymatic ring-opening polymerization.     

Effect of Chain Length of Alcohol on the Lipase-Catalyzed Esterification of Propionic Acid in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

The esterification of propionic acid was investigated using three different alcohols, namely, isopropyl alcohol, isobutyl alcohol, and isoamyl alcohol. The variation of conversion with time for the synthesis of isoamyl propionate was investigated in the presence of five enzymes. Novozym 435 showed the highest activity, and this was used as the enzyme for investigating the various parameters that influence the esterification reaction. The Ping-Pong Bi-Bi model with inhibition by both acid and alcohol was used to model the experimental data and determine the kinetics of the esterification reaction.     

Enzymatic synthesis of sorbitan methacrylate according to acyl donors

Recently, sugar polymers have been considered for use as biomaterials in medical applications. These biomaterials are already used extensively in burn dressings, artificial membranes, and contact lenses. In this study, we investigated the optimum conditions under which the enzymatic synthesis of sorbitan methacrylate can be affected using Novozym 435 in t-butanol from sorbitan and several acyl donors (ethyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate, and vinyl methacrylate). The enzymatic synthesis of sorbitan methacrylate, catalyzed by Novozym 435 in t-butanol, reached an approx 68% conversion yield at 50 g/L of 1,4-sorbitan, 5% (w/v) of enzyme content, and a 1∶5 molar ratio of sorbitan to ethyl methacrylate, with a reaction time of 36 h. Using methyl methacrylate as the acyl donor, we achieved a conversion yield of approx 78% at 50 g/L of 1,4-sorbitan, 7% (w/v) of enzyme content, at a 1∶5 molar ratio, with a reaction time of 36 h. Sorbitan methacrylate synthesis using vinyl methacrylate as the acyl donor was expected to result in a superior conversion yield at 3% (w/v) of enzyme content, and at a molar ratio greater than 1∶2.5. Higher molar ratios of acyl donor resulted in more rapid conversion rates. Vinyl methacrylate can be applied to obtain higher yields than are realized when using ethyl methacrylate or methyl methacrylate as acyl donors in esterification reactions catalyzed by Novozym 435 in organic solvents. Enzyme recycling resulted in a drastic reduction in conversion yields.     

Optimization of enzymatic production of biodiesel from castor oil in organic solvent medium

We studied the production of fatty acid ethyl esters from castor oil using n-hexane as solvent and two commercial lipases, Novozym 435 and Lipozyme IM, as catalysts. For this purpose, a Taguchi experimental design was adopted considering the following variables: temperature (35–65°C), water (0–10 wt/wt%), and enzyme (5–20 wt/wt%) concentrations and oil-to-ethanol molar ratio (1∶3 to 1∶10). An empirical model was then built so as to assess the main and cross-variable effects on the reaction conversion and also to maximize biodiesel production for each enzyme. For the system containing Novozym 435 as tatalyst the maximum conversion obtained was 81.4% at 65°C, enzyme concentration of 20 wt/wt%, water concentration of 0 wt/wt%, and oil-to-ethanol molar ratio of 1∶10. When the catalyst was Lipozyme IM, a conversion as high as 98% was obtained at 65°C, enzyme concentration of 20 wt/wt%, water concentration of 0 wt/wt%, and oil-to-ethanol molar ratio of 1∶3.     

Lipase-Catalyzed Transesterification of Rapeseed Oil for Biodiesel Production with tert-Butanol

Biodiesel is a fatty acid alkyl ester that can be derived from any vegetable oil or animal fat via the process of transesterification. It is a renewable, biodegradable, and nontoxic fuel. In this paper, we have evaluated the efficacy of a transesterification process for rapeseed oil with methanol in the presence of an enzyme and tert-butanol, which is added to ameliorate the negative effects associated with excess methanol. The application of Novozym 435 was determined to catalyze the transesterification process, and a conversion of 76.1% was achieved under selected conditions (reaction temperature 40 °C, methanol/oil molar ratio 3:1, 5% (w/w) Novozym 435 based on the oil weight, water content 1% (w/w), and reaction time of 24h). It has also been determined that rapeseed oil can be converted to fatty acid methyl ester using this system, and the results of this study contribute to the body of basic data relevant to the development of continuous enzymatic processes.     

Co-Fermentation of Cheese Whey and Crude Glycerol in EGSB Reactor as a Strategy to Enhance Continuous Hydrogen and Propionic Acid Production

This study evaluated the production of hydrogen and propionic acid in an expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactor by co-fermentation of cheese whey (CW) and crude glycerol (CG). The reactor was operated at hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 8 h by changing the CW/CG ratio from 5:1 to 5:2, 5:3, 5:4, and 5:5. At the ratio of 5:5, HRT was reduced from 8 to 0.5 h. The maximum hydrogen yield of 0.120 mmol H₂ g COD^?1 was observed at the CW/CG ratio of 5:1. Increasing the CG concentration repressed hydrogen production in favor of propionic acid, with a maximum yield of 6.19 mmol HPr g COD^?1 at the CW/CG ratio of 5:3. Moreover, by reducing HRT of 8 to 0.5 h, the hydrogen production rate was increased to a maximum value of 42.5 mL H₂ h^?1 L^?1at HRT of 0.5 h. The major metabolites were propionate, 1,3-propanediol, acetate, butyrate, and lactate.     

Simple and economical CALB/polyethylene/aluminum biocatalyst for fatty acid esterification

Candida antarctica lipase B was immobilized for the first time (at the author's knowledge) onto linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) films. Polymer films were previously bonded to a commercial aluminum sheet using a simple support preparation method. Biocatalyst performance was evaluated in penthyl oleate synthesis at room temperature. Two different catalyst geometries were tested and compared: one aluminum‐polyethylene 50 mm × 50 mm foil (50CAT) or near 5 mm × 5 mm aluminum‐polyethylene foils (5CAT). The obtained results demonstrate that the biocatalyst obtained with 50 mm × 50 mm aluminum‐polyethylene foil or 50CAT is reusable in up to 7 cycles, easy to separate from reaction products, and economical in comparison with commercial Novozym 435. Novel and economical CALB/LLDPE/Al biocatalyst is an attractive alternative for possible applications in a continuous monolithic reactor and future industrial scaling up.     

Mechanism and controlling strategy of the production and accumulation of propionic acid for anaerobic wastewater treatment

The production and accumulation of propionic acid affect significantly anaerobic wastewater treatment system, but the reasons are not approached until now. Based on the results of continuous-flow tests and the analysis of biochemistry and ecology, two mechanisms of producing propionic acid have been put forward. It is demonstrated that the reasons of propionic acid production and accumulation are not caused by higher hydrogen partial pressure. The combination of specific pH value and ORP is the ecological factor affecting propionic acid production, and the equilibrium regulation of NADH/NAD+ ratio in cells is the physiological factor. Meanwhile, it is put forward that using the two-phase anaerobic treatment process and the ethanol type fermentation in anaerobic reactor to avoid propionic acid accumulation are efficient methods.     

Regioselective enzyme-catalyzed synthesis of sophorolipid esters,amides, and multifunctional monomers

Novel enzyme-mediated synthetic routes were developed to provide a new family of sophorolipid derivatives and glycolopid-based amphiphilic monomers. These compounds are of great interest for their potential use in immunoregulation, as well as for other biological properties. In the present work, an efficient lipase-catalyzed conversion of sophorolipid ethyl ester to (a) the 6'-monoacylated derivatives using Novozym 435, (b) 6' '-monoacylated derivatives using Lipase PS-C, (c) secondary amide derivatives using Novozym 435, and (d) 6',6' '-diacylated amide derivatives using Novozym 435 in an one-pot reaction and (e) the regioselective monoacylation of an amide derivative at the 6'- and 6' '-positions using Novozym 435 and Lipase PS-C, respectively, are described. The ethyl ester produced by esterification of the sophorolipid mixture with sodium ethoxide was subjected to acylation catalyzed by Novozym 435 in dry tetrahedrofuran (THF) with vinyl acetate and vinyl methacrylate to produce 6'-monoacylated derivatives. In contrast, Lipase PS-C catalyzed acylations of sophorolipid ethyl ester in dry THF with vinyl acetate and vinyl methacrylate to give the corresponding 6'-monoacylated derivatives. Novozym 435 mediated amidation of sophorolipid ethyl ester in dry THF with phenethylamine, tyramine, p-methoxyphenethylamine, 2-(p-tolyl)ethylamine, and p-fluorophenethylamine generated the corresponding secondary amides but not tertiary amides. The formation of diacyl derivatives of amides was achieved by their treatment with vinyl acetate and vinyl methacrylate in dry THF using Novozym 435 as catalyst. The conversion of sophorolipid ethyl ester to the same diacyl derivatives of amide (i.e., both amidation and acylation) in high yield was also demonstrated in dry THF by a one-pot reaction using Novozym 435. Furthermore, regioselective monoacylation of a sophorolipid amide at 6' and 6' ' in dry THF with vinyl acetate and vinyl methacrylate using Novozym 435 and Lipase PS-C was also demonstrated.     

Combining Enzymatic Esterification with Conventional Alkaline Transesterification in an Integrated Biodiesel Process

An integrated biodiesel process that combines enzymatic esterification and alkaline transesterification is suggested. With focus on the enzymatic step, the paper provides proof of concept and suggestions for further process development. Hence, palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) has been enzymatically converted to fatty acid methyl esters in a two-step process using the immobilized lipase Novozym 435 in packed-bed columns. With only a small excess of methanol, the first reaction stage could reduce the free fatty acid (FFA) content from 85% to 5%. After removal of water by simple phase separation, it was possible to lower the FFA content to 2.5% in a second reaction stage. Both reaction stages are relatively fast with suggested reaction times of 15 min in column 1 (productivity 10 kg/kg/h) and 30 min in column 2 (productivity 5 kg/kg/h), resulting in 15% FFA after column 1 and 5% FFA after column 2. A lifetime study indicated that approximately 3,500 kg PFAD/kg Novozym 435 can be treated in the first reaction stage before the enzyme has become fully inactivated. With further optimization, the enzymatic process could be a real alternative to today’s sulfuric acid catalyzed process.     

Kinetics of enzyme-catalyzed alcoholysis of soybean oil in n-hexane

This work investigated the production of fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) from soybean oil using n-hexane as solvent and two commercial lipases as catalysts, Novozym 435 and Lipozyme IM. A Taguchi experimental design was adopted considering the variables temperature (35–65°C), addition of water (0–10 wt/wt%), enzyme (5–20 wt/wt%) concentration, and oil-to-ethanol molar ratio (1:3–1:10). It is shown that complete conversion in FAEE is achieved for some experimental conditions. The effects of process variables on reaction conversion and kinetics of the enzymatic reactions are presented for all experimental conditions investigated in the factorial design.     

Oligomerization of endo-dicyclopentadiene using a mesoporous catalyst in a fixed-bed reactor

The oligomerization of endo-dicyclopentadiene (endo-DCPD) over a mesoporous catalyst in a continuous-flow reactor at elevated pressure was studied to produce tricyclopentadiene (TCPD) and tetracyclopentadiene (TeCPD). The mesoporous material prepared from zeolite beta (MMZ_Hβ) was utilized as a catalyst. In addition, this study focused on the catalytic performance of the regenerated catalyst in comparison with the fresh catalyst. The TCPD and TeCPD were continuously produced through DCPD oligomerization over the MMZ_Hβ catalyst in a fixed bed reactor. At early time-on-stream, the conversion of endo-DCPD, the yield of TCPD and TeCPD, and the isomerization selectivity of TCPD in the fixed bed reactor were comparable to those in the batch-type reactor. The yield of oligomer containing TCPD and TeCPD decreased drastically from 28.5 % at 3 h time-on-stream to 21.5 % at 12 h time-on-stream, indicating that the catalyst was significantly deactivated. The in situ calcination in air flow at 500 °C was found to be effective for the regeneration of the used MMZ_Hβ catalyst.     

预聚-酶催化缩聚法合成超支化聚酯及其结构表征

以丙三醇、1,6-己二醇和己二酸为共聚单体,以固定化脂肪酶Novozym435为催化剂,尝试先进行共聚单体的预聚后在有机介质中进行酶催化直接缩聚反应合成脂肪族超支化聚酯的新途径,考察了反应介质和反应温度对酶催化缩聚反应的影响,并采用凝胶渗透色谱和核磁共振确定产物的分子量和结构.结果表明,将单体的预聚与酶催化缩聚反应相结...     

固定化脂肪酶催化高酸废油脂酯交换生产生物柴油

 探讨了固定化脂肪酶Novozym 435催化高酸废油脂与乙酸甲酯酯交换生产生物柴油. Novozym 435能催化高酸废油脂与乙酸甲酯的酯交换反应,反应24 h后甲酯产率为77.5%,但该值大大低于以精制玉米油为原料时的甲酯产率(86.2%). 系统研究了反应体系中的水、游离脂肪酸和乙酸对反应的影响. 当反应体系中的水含量低于0.05%时,水对酶反应速率和甲酯产率影响甚小,而水含量高于0.05%时,酶反应速率和甲酯产率随着水含量的增加而降低. 游离脂肪酸对反应有较大影响,甲酯产率随着游离脂肪酸含量的增加而急剧下降. 乙酸甲酯与游离脂肪酸反应产生的副产物乙酸是导致甲酯产率显著下降的原因. 在反应体系中添加适量(油重的10%)的有机碱三羟甲基氨基甲烷或三乙胺可有效提高酶促高酸废油脂的酯交换反应速率和甲酯产率,使反应12 h后的甲酯产率分别达到85.9%和80.8%; 碱的加入还提高了酶的操作稳定性,添加有机碱三羟甲基氨基甲烷或三乙胺可使反应10批次后Novozym 435的相对酶活力分别由对照值86%提高到97%和93%.     

Iterative tandem catalysis of racemic AB monomers

Racemic AB monomers encompassing a secondary hydroxy group and a methyl ester moiety were synthesized and converted to chiral polyesters by iterative tandem catalysis (ITC). The concurrent action of an enantioselective acylation catalyst (Novozym 435) and a racemization catalyst (Ru(Shvo)) results in the high conversion of the racemic monomers to enantio‐enriched polymers. Several factors are important for attaining high ee's and high molecular weights. The enantioselectivities observed for the novel AB monomers by Novozym 435 are high enough at 70 °C (E ratio ≥ 200) for the monomers to be useful for ITC. ITC of methyl 6‐hydroxyheptanoate showed that a catalyst loading of ～1.4 mol % Ru(Shvo), 25 mg Novozym 435/mmol AB monomer, and 0.5 mmol DMP/mmol monomer employing a monomer concentration of 1 mol/L gave a monomer conversion of 94%, an ee of 91%, and an M_p of 6.0 kg/mol. Application of these conditions to the other AB monomers revealed the sensitivity of the system. Reduced enantioselectivities were observed when longer reaction times were required for attaining high conversions. These long reaction times were necessary due to the slow (or absent) racemization activity of the Ru(Shvo) catalyst as a result of catalyst deactivation. Since quantitative conversions are crucial to attain high molecular weight polymers in polycondensation reactions, we could significantly improve the system by switching to isopropyl esters of the AB monomers and/or by strict exclusion of oxygen during the ITC. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2721–2733, 2008     

Enzymatic epoxidation of soybean oil in the presence of perbutyric acid

Enzymatic epoxidation of vegetable oils using a long chain fatty acid as an active oxygen carrier could produce a desirable epoxy oxygen group content (EOC); however, the acid value (AV) of final epoxidized oil is too high. The present study was to investigate the effect of different fatty acids with varying length of carbon chain on EOC and AV of the final epoxidized soybean oil (ESO); finding butyric acid was the choice of active oxygen carrier when hydrogen peroxide was used as an oxygen donor in the presence of lipase Novozyme 435. And in situ IR was used to monitor the epoxidation process, which revealed that the formation of perbutyric acid was the key step in the whole reaction. The epoxidation process was optimized as follows: molar ratio of butyric acid/C=C bonds of 0.19:1, 8% of immobilized lipase Novozyme 435 load (relative to the weight of soybean oil) and molar ratio of H₂O₂/C=C bonds of 3.5:1, reaction time of 4 h and reaction temperature of 45 °C. Under these conditions, ESO with a high EOC (7.62 ± 0.20%) and a lower AV value (8.53 ± 0.18 mgKOH/g) was obtained. The oxriane conversion degree was up to 97.94%.     

分子量及酰基供体对酶促魔芋葡甘聚糖酰化反应的影响

研究了在有机介质叔丁醇中魔芋葡甘聚糖(KGM)的分子量及酰基供体对固定化脂肪酶Novozym 435催化KGM乙酰化反应的影响.KGM的分子量对酶促其酰化反应的活性及产物取代度有显著影响.随着KGM分子量的增大,酶催化反应的速率逐渐下降,产物的取代度逐渐减小.KGM分子量对该反应的影响与不同分子量KGM的溶解度、体系粘度、空间位阻及颗粒形态等因素有关.以不同链长的脂肪酸乙烯酯为酰基供体时,随着酰基供体中脂肪酸碳链的增长,酶促KGM酰化反应速率逐渐下降,产物的取代度逐渐减小,且该酰化反应具有高度的区域选择性,反应均发生在C6-OH上.