文摘
In this work was produced an immobilized biocatalyst from Cercospora kikuchii lipase with beneficial catalytic activity and stability. The immobilized derivative was used in the ethanolysis of coconut oil. This is a great option for the Brazilian renewable fuel production, because both coconut oil and ethanol are promptly available in the country, at a reasonably low cost. For this, lipase was immobilized on rice husk (5.5 mgprotein g–1support) by covalent binding using spouted bed drying (gas flow rate, 0.66 m3 min–1; temperature, 100 °C; and solution flow rate, 5.5 g min–1). In a typical batch run, the immobilized derivative was added at a vegetable oil/ethanol molar ratio of 1:12 using tert-butanol as the solvent. The feasibility of immobilization and drying processes was demonstrated toward biodiesel production, attaining a high ester content (97.1%) and low levels of acylglycerides (0.9%) after 72 h. Further properties, such as viscosity (4.56 mm cm−2) and density (888 kg m−3), are in agreement with specifications required by the ASTM D6751 to be used as alternative biofuel.