Lipase-catalyzed production of fatty acid ethyl esters from soybean oil in compressed propane

This work investigates the production of fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) from soybean oil in compressed propane using Novozym 435 as catalyst. The experiments were performed in a batch reactor following the kinetics of the enzyme-catalyzed reaction in the temperature range of 35–65 °C, from 50 to 150 bar, enzyme concentration of 1–20 wt%, oil to ethanol molar ratio of 1:3–1:15 and solvent to substrates mass ratio of 1:1–4:1. Results showed that lipase-catalyzed alcoholysis in propane might be a potential alternative to conventional techniques for biodiesel production as complete conversions were obtained at mild temperature and pressure conditions, 65 °C and 50 bar, for an enzyme concentration of 5 wt% in 6 h of reaction.