Evaluation of encapsulated lipase activity within cellulose emulsion droplets

Fuel consumption and its demand are at constant rise, causing concerns regarding depletion of natural reserves and price increase. As such new cost-effective and environmentally safe methods are on pursuit, for example bio-alcohols and bio-diesel. These can be generated from Lignocellulosic biomass, a common renewable resource which does not impact the food supply chain thus making it a preferable candidate for biodiesel production.

Bio-diesel is composed of monoalkyl esters of long chain fatty acids that can be produced from various oils such as vegetables, animals fat etc. Common catalytic bio-diesel production is mostly based on homogenous base catalyst that provide high yield rates and low energy requirements. Enzyme-based catalytic reactions are more suitable for upscaling processes since they present specificity for the desired reaction, requires less energy and production steps and reduce the amount of waste-water consumption along with improvement of by-products quality. That being said, enzymes presents drawbacks such as high cost, low reaction rates and recycling issues.

The research combines the use of cellulose and vegetable oils as raw materials for the production of bio-diesel by microencapsulation of lipases (triacylglycerol acyl hydrolase), a common method for the delivery of lipophilic compounds in the pharmaceutical and food industries, within oil-water phase of stabilized cellulose emulsion droplets. We hypothesize that following its immobilization a catalytic reaction of trans-esterification will occur, producing monoalkyl esters – hence bio-diesel.