Optimization study for fatty acid methyl ester production from Jatropha curcas seeds oil by VS- immobilized lipase of Aspergillus niger CBS 513.88

Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) was produced from Jatropha seeds oil, a feedstock with high potential feedstock with relatively low cost and non-edible plant oil through transesterification using lipase catalyzed process.  Vegetative sponge (Luffa aegyptiaca) was used to immobilize Aspergillus niger CBS 513.88 lipase by direct incorporation of the vegetative sponge (VS) on rice bran-physic nut medium and incubated at 30 °C for 72 h. The VS-immobilized lipase was used for the production of FAME from Jatropha seeds oil. Response surface methodology (RSM) in conjunction with the Central Composite Design (CCD) was statistically used to evaluate and optimize the biodiesel production process. The optimized predicted conditions obtained at oil-to-methanol ratio of (4.38:1); enzyme concentration (30% wt); reaction temperature of 38.7 °C at 242 rpm for 24 h yielded 87.7% wt biodiesel. Cross-linked immobilized lipase was stable repeatedly for nine times with 90% initial lipase activity. The fuel properties of jatropha fatty acid methyl ester so obtained were found to conform to the American and European standards and comparable to those of diesel.