Obtenção de biodiesel via catálise enzimática e caracterização através de técnicas cromatográficas e espectrometria de infravermelho associada à calibração multivariada

Abstract

Biodiesel (alkyl esters derived from fatty acids) is becoming a likely substitute for diesel due to similar characteristics, such as, its cetane number and viscosity. Its standard production is based on a transesterification reaction or alcoholysis by chemical catalysis, which leads to a number of drawbacks. An alternative to overcome thesedisadvantages is the enzymatic production of biodiesel by lipase-producing microorganisms (fungi and bacteria). This technique provides the following benefits: a lower energy cost compared to chemical catalysis, a less complex process of catalyst removal compared to the chemical catalysis which cannot be reused in the process, andwaste treatment is not required. This work was carried out with the objective of studying some fungi that display a good potential as producers of lipases, which can be used to produce biodiesel, i.e. the production of alkyl esters derived from fatty acids. The fungi were acquired from the collection of fungi of the Biotechnology Laboratory and Bioassays (LABB), seven fungi were selected (Mucor plumbeus, Penicillium citrinum, Syncephalastrum racemosum, Rhizopus oryzae, Penicillium janthinellum, Rhizopus stolonifer and Aspergillus niger) in order to assess them as producers of lipase. Thus, these fungi were added to an array containing pure soybean oil and alcohol (MeOH:ButOH (1:1)) then subjected to reaction conditions (temperature, agitation, etc.). The product was monitored with high resolution liquid chromatography (HPLC), infrared spectrometry (ATR-FTIR) and quantified with gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (CG-FID). The infrared spectral data were processed by multivariate calibrationtools. Among the studied fungi, the Syncephalastrum racemosum displayed great potential to be used for this purpose