Biodiesel production from Calophyllum inophyllum oil using lipase producing Rhizopus oryzae cells immobilized within reticulated foams

•Calophyllum inophyllum oil, non-edible and low cost feedstock for biodiesel.•Whole cell of Rhizopus oryzae transesterification does not require pre-treatments.•Immobilization of cells improves recovery and reuse of cells.•Leads to the development of cost effective process for biodiesel production.

Biodiesel production from non-edible Calophyllum inophyllum linn oil with high levels of Free Fatty Acid (FFA) (acid value −6.732 mg KOH/g of oil) was investigated using whole-cell biocatalysts. Rhizopus oryzae cells immobilized within reticulated polyurethane foams were used as biocatalysts for biodiesel production. The effects of reaction parameters such as methanol-to-oil molar ratio, water content, and temperature for the production of biodiesel through methanolysis in a packed-bed reactor (PBR) were studied. Molar ratio of methanol-to-oil – 12:1, water content – 15%v/v, cell concentration – 20% and temperature 35 °C were found to be the optimum. The yield of biodiesel obtained in batch methanolysis from C. inophyllum oil under optimized condition was 92%. Long-term stability of immobilized cells for methanolysis was verified using re-usability studies.