Synthesis of biodiesel using immobilized lipase in batch and continous reactors

Investigation on the process of production of biodiesel fuel with soybean oil catalyzed by lipase was done in a batch and fixed-bed bioreactor.The optimal reaction condition was obtained in the batch reaction,and the three-step transesterification of beanoil with methanol was conducted in a columns packed with immobilized Candida sp.99-125 lipase.In the process of transesterification, fractional feeding of methanol was conducted to keep the molar ratio of methanol and plantoil as 1∶1, led to the conversion of oil at each step staying above 30% and the total conversion of oil striked 93%.The whole operation was operated continuously .The final conversion of the FAME from waste oil under the optimal condition could reach 92%.The life of the immobilized lipase was more than 20 days.