Efficacy of fungal enzyme in biodiesel production from vegetable oil.

摘要

Biodiesel fuel (BDF) produced by alcoholysis of vegetable oils or fats is viewed as a promising renewable fuel source. Diminishing petroleum reserves and increasing environmental regulations have made the search for renewable fuel. Biodiesel is non-toxic and biodegradable, produced from renewable sources and contributes a minimal amount of net green-house gases, such as CO₂, SO₂ and NO emissions to the atmosphere. The main objective of the present study is to produce biodiesel from vegetable oil and to use micro-emulsions with solvents ethanol and methanol following acid, alkali and fungal enzyme catalysis methods. The best suited method of biodiesel production was ethanolic and alkali mediated trans-esterification process rather than methanolic and acidic trans-esterification. The maximum yield of biodiesel was obtained from Rhizopus oryzae lipase enzyme, ethanolic and alkali mediated trans-esterification followed by Aspergillus niger, Polyporus squamosus and Agaricus campestris.