Biodiesel production from animal grease wastes by enzymatic catalysis

Abstract

Animal grease wastes were successfully used in the transesterification reaction as an alternative raw material for biodiesel production. Transesterification reactions were performed using an enzymatic catalysis with two commercial lipases N435 and RM IM. N435 was the most efficient in a solvent free system as well as in the system with terbuthanol. In both systems the excess of ethanol turned out to be beneficial for the reaction obtaining conversions of 80% in 48 hours and 65% in 24 hours.

Keywords

• biodiesel
• ethyl esters
• grease waste
• lipase
• solvent free system
• transesterification