Enzymatic production of biodiesel from canola oil

Biodiesel fuel (fatty acid methyl esters) has become more attractive recently because of its environmental benefits and the fact that it is made from renewable resources. Biodiesel is produced by transesterification of triglycerides with methanol (i.e. methanolysis). In this study, the alcoholysis of canola oil with methanol catalyzed by commercially immobilized Candida antarctica lipase was investigated in solvent-free system. Oil/methanol molar ratio, temperature, and amount of enzyme are the most important parameters affecting the reaction yield of enzymatic methanolysis. The reaction was conducted by stepwise addition of methanol to prevent inactivation of lipase. The effect of enzyme dosage on the biodiesel yield was investigated in three subsequent runs to monitor the activity of enzyme in repeated use.