Efficacy of Fungal Enzyme in Biodiesel Production from Vegetable Oil

M. N. Abubacker¹ and A. Ayesha² 

¹Department of Biotechnology, National College, Tiruchirappali - 620 001, India. ²Department of Civil Engineering, Kongu Engg College, Perundurai, Erode - 638 052, India.

ABSTRACT: Biodiesel fuel (BDF) produced by alcoholysis of vegetable oils or fats is viewed as a promising renewable fuel source. Diminishing petroleum reserves and increasing environmental regulations have made the search for renewable fuel. Biodiesel is non-toxic and biodegradable, produced from renewable sources and contributes a minimal amount of net green-house gases, such as CO2, SO2 and NO emissions to the atmosphere. The main objective of the present study is to produce biodiesel from vegetable oil and to use micro-emulsions with solvents ethanol and methanol following acid, alkali and fungal enzyme catalysis methods. The best suited method of biodiesel production was ethanolic and alkali mediated trans-esterification process rather than methanolic and acidic trans-esterification. The maximum yield of biodiesel was obtained from Rhizopus oryzae lipase enzyme, ethanolic and alkali mediated trans-esterification followed by Aspergillus niger, Polyporus squamosus and Agaricus campestris.

KEYWORDS: Biodiesel; trans-esterification; Fungal enzyme; Lipase

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