Preparation and characterization of heterogeneous enzymatic catalyst for biodiesel production

In this paper, the preparation and characterization of the Rhizomucor miehei Lipase/zeolite catalyst is reported. In order to obtain an efficient heterogeneous enzymatic catalyst two different immobilization method of Lipase enzyme on zeolite type supports are investigated. Concerning the adsorption method, the zeolite materials have been prepared in order to obtain supports having different physical-chemical surface properties. The immobilization test shows that the zeolitic support prepared in F- media allow to attach the highest protein amount (280 mg/g) with respect to those ones obtained in alkaline system (200 mg/g). An immobilization yield of 99% by covalent attachment is obtained. A simple and fast method for testing the catalytic activity by an alkyl ester hydrolysis reaction was used in order to investigate the interactions between the enzyme and the support. Stability, leaching and total productivity of the immobilized enzyme were also measured. These preliminary catalytic results let to choose the more suitable Lipase/Support system to use as catalyst for tuning of the heterogeneous enzymatic transesterification reaction of olive oil.