Biorefinery: an integrated system for the production of biolubricating esters and immobilization of lipase from Aspergillus tubingensis

Abstract

Lipases catalyze several reactions and are easily separated from the reaction medium when immobilized, making them versatile and widely used enzymes in biotransformations. They can be obtained from microbial sources, such as fungi, which have advantages with lower cultivation costs, extracellular enzyme secretion, and greater stability and activity compared to other sources. The final cost is a major obstacle for the industrial use of biotechnological products, so cost reduction is of great interest, which can be achieved through the use of alternative culture media, such as agro-industrial residues, and the reduction of extraction/purification steps. A strategy that can be used is the immobilization of the enzyme in the fermented broth, excluding traditional purification steps and reducing costs. Furthermore, the application of lipases in the synthesis of esters of industrial interest, such as lubricants, becomes a viable and eco-friendly alternative, allowing the replacement of synthetic lubricants and petroleum derivatives. In this context, this project aims to add value to the fusel oil agroindustrial waste, using it as a raw material in the production of biolubricant esters catalyzed by immobilized lipases. Therefore, lipase from Aspergillus tubingensis will be produced in submerged culture and immobilized in styrene-divinylbenzene. Furthermore, is intended to develop an innovative system for a fixed-bed column reactor that will allow: (1) the immobilization of lipase from A. tubingensis; (2) the production of biolubricant; and (3) column renewal.(AU)