Strategic Immobilization of Eversa Transform 2.0 on Hydrophobic Octyl‐Silica via Interfacial Activation for the Valorization of Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) Oil Into Biodiesel

Growing global energy demands and the urgent need to cut greenhouse gas emissions have amplified interest in biodiesel, yet its widespread adoption often conflicts with food resources. This study targets a more sustainable biodiesel production pathway by converting palm oil mill effluent (POME) oil—a prevalent industry by‐product—using lipase Eversa Transform 2.0 immobilized onto octyl‐functionalized silica via adsorption hydrophobic interaction. The immobilized enzyme demonstrated high catalytic activity (0.6 0.6 ± 0.04 U·mg −1 ) and achieved a notable fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) yield of 81% ± 6% under optimized conditions (6%‐wt catalyst, 1:7 oil‐to‐methanol molar ratio, 3‐step methanol addition, 24 h at 40°C). Stepwise methanol addition improved conversion by minimizing lipase inhibition. Biodiesel produced met key national fuel standards, including density, viscosity, and free glycerol content. These findings highlight the potential of hydrophobic octyl‐functionalized silica support‐immobilized lipase for efficient biodiesel synthesis from industrial waste oils. The system offers a promising approach for green fuel production, combining high performance with waste valorization in support of sustainable energy goals.