Biodiesel production from crude jatropha curcas oil using lipase immobilized in hybrid matrix

The present world is on the verge of a severe 'global energy crisis' with limited energy reserves exceeding its supply. In such a scenario, biodiesel production using immobilized lipase has immense significance. Jatropha curcas oil (00) has gained much importance as a non edible biodiesel...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Rahmath Abdulla
Format: Thesis
Language:English
English
Published: 2013
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/38582/1/24%20PAGES.pdf
https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/38582/2/FULLTEXT.pdf
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Summary:The present world is on the verge of a severe 'global energy crisis' with limited energy reserves exceeding its supply. In such a scenario, biodiesel production using immobilized lipase has immense significance. Jatropha curcas oil (00) has gained much importance as a non edible biodiesel feedstock in many countries. The objective of this research was to produce biodiesel from 00 using Burkholderia cepacia lipase immobilized in hybrid matrix. The research was divided into two main parts. First part incorporated the immobilization of lipase onto hybrid matrix and its stability studies followed by the second part which included optimization of biodiesel production from 00 with the immobilized lipase. At first, the lipase was cross linked with glutaraldehyde prior to entrapment in a hybrid matrix of natural polymers of alginate and K-carrageenan. The lipase beads were spherical in shape with an average diameter of 3mm. A specific activity yield of 89.26% was obtained following immobilization. Further, a significant reduction of 65.76% enzyme leakage was observed. The immobilized lipase also retained 84.02% of its initial activity upon two weeks of storage. Optimum pH for immobilized lipase was found to be 7 and temperature 40°C. Comparative kinetic parameters Km and Vmax values were found to be 3.15µM and 12.Sµmol/min for free lipase and 4.17µM and 11.llµmol/min for immobilized lipase respectively. Immobilized lipase also retained 75.54% of its initial activity after 10 cycles of reuse. In the second part of the research, the immobilized lipase in hybrid matrix was employed for biodiesel production from 00. A 100% yield of biodiesel (FAEE) was obtained with the optimized parameters : 10g 00, 1: 10 molar ratio of oil to ethanol, 1 g water, 5.2g immobilized lipase, 35°C, 6 g x RCF and 24 hour reaction time. The immobilized lipase retained 73% relative transesterification activity after six cycles of reuse. On the other hand, a simple and effective external mass transfer model was established in a recirculated packed bed batch reactor (RPBBR) with immobilized lipase and 00. Based on different biopolymer material used in immobilized beads, Colburn factor J0 for alginate was 1.674 Re-o.4 and for K-carrageenan was 1.881 Re-o·3 . In addition, the environmental friendly nature of Jatropha biodiesel produced by immobilized lipase was affirmed through LCA. Moreover, it was found out that when the immobilized lipase was reused for 10 times, the cost of Jatropha biodiesel production was similar to that of alkali catalyzed one. Thus, in short, biodiesel produced from 00 using immobilized lipase in hybrid matrix can be a sustainable fuel in the near future.