(363a) Operation Optimization of the Lipase-Catalyzed Biodiesel Production

In this presentation biodiesel production from an olive oil was catalyzed by lipases. Lipase OF (Meito Sangyo Co., Ltd.) and Lipase QLC (Meito Sangyo Co., Ltd.) were used. Lipase QLC has a high transesterification activity in the olive oil ? ethanol system. The conversion was 50% at 30h. But Lipase QLC is expensive compared to Lipase OF. Lipase OF was used for the transesterification. Lipase OF has a low transesterification activity. The conversion was 5% at 30h. Ethanol deactivated the Lipase OF. To decrease the effect of the ethanol, an experiment was carried in the water system. Lipase OF has a low activity on the transesterification but has a high activity on hydrolysis. The experiment had 2 steps. At first, a hydrolysis of the olive oil was carried in the olive oil ? water system, and then the ethanol was added for an esterification. Three operations were examined. (1)Add the ethanol at once. (2)Add the 1/3 amount of ethanol by 3 times. (3)Add the ethanol for 30h by a pump. The total amount of the ethanol was same in each operation. The conversion increased with increase of reaction time until 30h with the operation (1). The conversion did not increase over 30h. The conversion was 30% at 30h. The combined process, hydrolysis and esterification, was superior to the transesterification when Lipase OF was used. To decrease the ethanol concentration in the reactor, operation (2) was carried out. The conversion increased to 40% at 30h with the operation (2). To decrease more ethanol concentration in the reactor, operation (3) was carried out. The conversion became 65% at 30h with the operation (3). The conversion value of the operation (3) was greater than that of Lipase QLC. The final conversion was increased with decrease of the ethanol flow rate in operation (3). The ethanol concentration had large effect when Lipase OF was used.