Enzymatic coproduction of biodiesel and glycerol carbonate from soybean oil in solvent-free system

• We converted soybean oil to value-added chemicals in a solvent-free system.
• We optimized the conditions for enzymatic coproduction of biodiesel and glycerol carbonate.
• Biodiesel and glycerol carbonate were successfully synthesized about 96% and 92%, respectively.

The enzymatic coproduction of biodiesel and glycerol carbonate by transesterification of soybean oil and dimethyl carbonate (DMC) has been studied in a solvent-free system. The effects on biodiesel and glycerol carbonate conversion of reaction conditions including the kind of enzyme, the amount of enzyme, the molar ratio of DMC to soybean oil, the reaction temperature, and water addition were investigated. The optimal conditions for biodiesel and glycerol carbonate were 20% Novozym 435, 10:1 molar ratio of DMC to soybean oil, and 0.7% water addition. Under these conditions, the conversions of 96.4% biodiesel and 92.1% glycerol carbonate have been achieved after 48 h.