(723d) Biodiesel Production Using Biopolymer Encapsulated Lipase in Bioreactors

The aim of this study was to encapsulate lipase in a biopolymer and to produce biodiesel using the encapsulated lipase in an immobilized bioreactor. Encapsulated lipase was prepared using co-extrusion technique and ĸ-carrageenan as the matrix. This study has been undertaken due to environmentally benign, nontoxic, low cost, renewable characteristics of κ-carrageenan and uniqueness of co-extrusion technique. Lipase PS from Burkholderia cepacia was found to be efficient for bio diesel production among various lipases that were screened. Encapsulated lipase physico-chemical studies showed good catalytic, stability and reuse characteristics.Process parameters were optimized for biodiesel production. The optimum conditions for processing for biodiesel production in a stirred tank immobilized bioreactor and packed bed bioreactor were 30^oC, 72 h reaction time, 23.7 x g relative centrifugal force and 1.5 ml/min and 264 h reaction time respectively. At the optimal conditions, biodiesel conversion up to 100% and 82% were achieved in stirred tank and packed bed reactor respectively. The life cycle impact of biodiesel from immobilized lipase as catalyst was less compared to the conventional catalytic processes. From the results, it is concluded that biodiesel production using encapsulated lipase in an immobilized bioreactor may open new outlooks for the scale-up studies of this technology in near future.