7-65: Evaluation of the lipase produced by solid state fermentation by the fungus Acremonium sp with potential in the synthesis of biodiesel

Lipases are enzymes classified in the group of hydrolases acting on ester bonds of glycerides releasing fatty acids, diglycerides, monoacilgliceróis and glycerol. In addition to catalyzing the hydrolysis, some of them, also perform synthesis reactions in media with water restriction, as reactions of esterification and transesterificação, which are being used to produce biodiesel. The objective of this study was to evaluate the production of lipases from the microorganism Acremonium sp through the use of different carbon sources and assess the enzymatic production of the fungus. The fungal strain Acremonium sp was subjected to solid fermentation for 72 hours, using as source of carbon sugar cane, soybeans, castor seed and wheat. The hydrolytic activity was performed by adding the extract enzyme to the substrate p-nitrophenyl palmitate in phosphate buffer 0,05 M pH 7.0 at 37 °C for 1 min, and absorption was measured at 410 nm. The best enzymatic activities were obtained from enzymatic extracts produced in sugarcane bagasse and soybean (9,28 and 6,92 U/g respectively). As the sugar cane bagasse showed higher enzyme activity, it was used to perform an enzymatic profile of production of Acremonium sp for 240 hours. The fermentation of sugarcane bagasse, produced an enzymatic extract with higher hydrolytic activity at 72 hours (20,2 U/g). Therefore a fermentation using the fungus Acremonium sp on sugarcane bagasse as a carbon source for 72 hours, was carried out and enzymatic extract was employed in the synthesis of biodiesel with good results.

Acknowledgments: FAPESP, CAPES and CNPq