Enzymatic transesterification of oil and methanol: Activity and stability study of enzyme immobilized passivated SBA-15

Abstract

In this study, Candida Antarctica lipase, a well-known enzyme for biodiesel production by transesterification of vegetable oil with methanol, was immobilized onto the passivated SBA-15 and studied the catalytic activity and stability via transesterification of palm oil and methanol. The immobilized lipase was characterized the physical and textural properties by XRD, TEM, N2 adsorption-desorption measurement, and FTIR. In addition, the amount of immobilized enzyme was measured by Bradford assay. It was found that when compared with normal functionalized SBA-15 (F-SBA) and without functionalization (SBA-15), the amount of enzyme on passivated-SBA-15 support (P-SBA) is more and the ordered structure of SBA-15 retains. In addition, the catalytic activity of immobilized lipase on P-SBA is higher than that on F-SBA, SBA-15 and even not-immobilized enzyme. Also, the stability of immobilized lipase, which is tested both in aqueous and organic system, can retain for many days with little amount of enzyme leaching.