Exploring lipase-based biocatalysts derived from Yarrowia lipolytica for fatty acid ethyl esters synthesis

This work aimed to evaluate the lipases from Yarrowia lipolytica as a biocatalyst for synthesizing fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE). The Yarrowia lipolytica lipases were evaluated in three distinct forms: firstly, as the crude enzymatic liquid extract derived from the submerged fermentation process of Y. lipolytica (YLL); secondly, as YLL immobilized on silica-alumina (YLL-S40); and thirdly, as the fermented solid material obtained from solid-state fermentation of Y. lipolytica (SEP-YLL). The highest FAEE content (54 wt.%) was obtained after 240 h in transesterification reactions using SEP-YLL. The influence of temperature, biocatalyst concentration, and reaction time was studied in the ethyl oleate synthesis. The SEP-YLL also showed better results compared to YLL and YLL-S40. The reaction catalyzed by SEP-YLL achieved 81% conversion at 30 °C. The SEP-YLL was evaluated in a batch-stirred reactor (BSTR) and a continuous packed-bed reactor (PBR), obtaining an oleic acid conversion of 80% and 70%, respectively. The low-cost biocatalyst (SEP-YLL) demonstrated potential for application in biodiesel production by reducing free fatty acids from an acid oil source through PBR and BSTR.