Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Ultrasonic-Assisted Preparation of Biodiesel Products from Vegetable Oils
Published on: April 19, 2024
Enzymatic transesterification of Jatropha oil
Annapurna Kumari1, Paramita Mahapatra, Vijay Kumar Garlapati
1Agricultural and Food Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India. kumariannapurna92@gmail.com
Background:
Transesterification of Jatropha oil was carried out in t-butanol solvent using immobilized lipase from Enterobacter aerogenes. The presence of t-butanol significantly reduced the negative effects caused by both methanol and glycerol. The effects of various reaction parameters on transesterification of Jatropha oil were studied.
Results:
The maximum yield of biodiesel was 94% (of which 68% conversion was achieved with respect to methyl oleate) with an oil:methanol molar ratio of 1:4, 50 U of immobilized lipase/g of oil, and a t-butanol:oil volume ratio of 0.8:1 at 55 degrees C after 48 h of reaction time. There was negligible loss in lipase activity even after repeated use for seven cycles.
Conclusion:
To the best of our knowledge this is the first report on biodiesel synthesis using immobilized E. aerogenes lipase.
Related Concept Videos
Esters to Carboxylic Acids: Saponification
The reaction requires a base in stoichiometric amounts, which participates in the reaction and is not regenerated later. So, the base acts as a...
Esters to Carboxylic Acids: Acid-Catalyzed Hydrolysis
During hydrolysis, the ester is first activated towards nucleophilic attack through the protonation of the carboxyl oxygen atom by the acid catalyst. The protonation makes the ester carbonyl carbon more electrophilic. In the next step, water acts as a nucleophile and adds to the...
Carboxylic Acids to Esters: Acid-Catalyzed (Fischer) Esterification Overview
Biofuels
Carboxylic Acids to Esters: Acid-Catalyzed (Fischer) Esterification Mechanism
Alkylation of β-Ketoester Enolates: Acetoacetic Ester Synthesis

