Covalent attachment of lipases on glyoxyl-agarose beads: Application in fruit flavor and biodiesel synthesis

The aim of this work was to prepare biocatalysts to catalyze the synthesis of butyl butyrate by esterification reaction, and the synthesis of biodiesel by transesterification of palm and babassu oils with ethanol. Lipase preparations Lipolase® (TLL1) and Lipex® 100L (TLL2) from Thermomyces lanuginosus and Lipase AK from Pseudomonas fluorescens (PFL) were immobilized on glyoxyl-agarose beads prepared by activation with glycidol (Gly) and epichlorohydrin (Epi). The influence of immobilization time, lipase source and activating agents on the catalytic activity of the biocatalysts were evaluated in both aqueous and organic media. TLL1 immobilized on glyoxyl-agarose by 24 h of incubation resulted biocatalysts with high hydrolytic activity (varying from 1347.3 to 1470.0 IU/g of support) and thermal-stability, around 300-fold more stable than crude TLL1 extract. The maximum load of immobilized TLL1 was around 20 mg of protein/g of support. The biocatalyst prepared exhibited high activity and operational stability on the butyl butyrate synthesis by esterification after five successive cycles of 24 h each (conversion around 85–90%). Immobilized TLL1 and PFL were active in the synthesis of biodiesel by transesterification reaction. Maximum transesterification yield (≥98.5% after 48 h of reaction at 45 °C) was provided by using palm oil as feedstock.