Lipase-catalyzed production of biodiesel

Lipases were screened for their ability to transesterify triglycerides with short-chain alcohols to alkyl esters. The lipase from Mucor miehei was most efficient for converting triglycerides to their alkyl esters with primary alcohols, whereas the lipase from Candida antarctica was most efficient for transesterifying triglycerides with secondary alcohols to give branched alkyl esters. Conditions were established for converting tallow to short-chain alkyl esters at more than 90% conversion. These same conditions also proved effective for transesterifying vegetable oils and high fatty acid-containing feedstocks to their respective alkyl ester derivatives.