Use of Loofa-Immobilized Rhizopus Oryzae as a Whole-Cell Biocatalyst for Biodiesel Production: Batch and Packed-Bed Reactor Study

Biodiesel is a sustainable fuel made from transesterification reaction of vegetable oils with short chain alcohols. Use of loofa-immobilized Rhizopus oryzae as a biocatalyst for transesterification reaction of canola oil and the effect of some parameters on biodiesel production were studied. The highest methyl ester yield of 85.3% at optimum conditions, containing 15 wt% of water and methanol to oil molar ratio of 3:1, was achieved. The performance of the reaction in a packed-bed reactor was able to produce biodiesel with a yield of 92%.

کلیدواژه ها:

Biodiesel ، Whole-cell biocatalyst ، Rhizopus oryzae ، Loofa ، Packed-bed reactor