Production of alkyl esters from tallow and grease using lipase immobilized in a phyllosilicate sol‐gel

The lipase‐catalyzed synthesis of alkyl esters from tallow and grease using Pseudomonas cepacia lipase (PS‐30) immobilized within a phyllosilicate sol‐gel matrix was investigated. The effects of the presence of alcohol and of the amount of enzyme used were studied. The matrix‐immobilized PS‐30 lipase effectively converted grease and tallow to ethyl esters in greater than 95% yield when using ethanol. The final conversion of grease or tallow to alkyl esters was aided by the addition of molecular sieves (0.4 wt% of substrates) to the reaction mixture. The matrix‐immobilized PS‐30 enzyme was easily recovered and could be reused at least five times without losing its activity. Accordingly, the phyllosilicate sol‐gel immobilized PS‐30 lipase is potentially useful for the economic production of biodiesel fuel.