Enzymatic Microalgae Oil Transesterification with Ethanol in Mineral Diesel Fuel Media

This study investigates the potential for enzymatic transesterification of microalgae oil with ethanol in the presence of mineral diesel fuel to produce biodiesel. A comprehensive analysis was conducted to determine the optimal conditions for maximizing ester yield, which was achieved at 7% under initial experimental setups. Seven industrial lipases were evaluated for their effectiveness, with Lipozyme TL IM identified as the most suitable for further optimization. The experimental design utilized response surface methodology (RSM) to assess the impact of variables such as ethanol-to-oil molar ratio, reaction time, lipase concentration, and temperature on the transesterification yield. Optimal conditions were established at a temperature of 30°C, a biocatalyst concentration of 13.26% relative to oil content, an ethanol-to-oil molar ratio of 4.54:1, and a reaction duration of 13.26 hours. Under these conditions, a transesterification yield of 98% was achieved, demonstrating the feasibility and efficiency of using enzymatic processes for biodiesel production from microalgae oil.