Enzymatic methanolysis reaction of canola oil using capillary channel reactor: Determination of the kinetic constants-involved

• Enzymatic production of biodiesel from canola oil in a solvent free system was studied in a capillary-channel reactor.
• The capillary-channel reactor enhanced the biodiesel production yield up to 4-fold in comparison with shake flask experiment.
• Relevant kinetic constants for the methanolysis reaction were determined by Ping-Pong model in the capillary-channel reactor.
• In the kinetic modelling, the competitive and non-competitive inhibitory effects of methanol on lipase activity were compared.

Enzymatic methanolysis reaction of canola oil utilizing Candida rugosa lipase in a solvent free system was studied in a shake flask as well as capillary channel reactors. The results demonstrated that pretreatment of the enzyme with the substrate, increased the stability of the enzyme by 21.2% during the methanolysis reaction. Performance of a capillary-channel reactor improved the yield of methanolysis up to 4-fold when compared with the shake flask experiments. Bio-kinetic constants were estimated using the Ping-Pong model by considering the competitive and non-competitive inhibition roles of methanol on enzymatic methanolysis reaction. The results of the kinetics studies showed that the enzymatic methanolysis reaction was best described by the competitive inhibition Ping-Pong model with the maximum enzyme activity of 170368 μmol min−1 genzyme−1, the inhibition constant of methanol 0.826 mol genzyme−1, the dissociation constant of canola oil 0.137 mol genzyme−1, and methanol dissociation constant 1.081 mol genzyme−1.

Based on the results obtained in the present study, the enzymatic biodiesel production yield from canola oil in a solvent free system was increased by 4-fold using a capillary-channel reactor in comparison to shake flask experiments. The kinetic constants were estimated using Ping-Pong model and with considering the competitive and non-competitive inhibition roles of methanol on the enzymatic methanolysis reaction. The results of the kinetics studies showed that the competitive inhibition Ping-Pong model was best described the enzymatic methanolysis reaction.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide