Transesterification of oil mixtures catalyzed by microencapsulated cutinase in reversed micelles

Recombinant cutinase from Fusarium solani pisi was used to catalyze the transesterification reaction between a mixture of triglycerides (oils) and methanol in reversed micelles of bis(2-ethylhexyl) sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT) in isooctane for the purposes of producing biodiesel. The use of a bi-phase lipase-catalyzed system brings advantages in terms of catalyst re-use and the control of water activity in the medium and around the enzyme micro-environment. Small-scale batch studies were performed to study the influence of the initial enzyme and alcohol concentrations, and the substrates molar ratio. Conversions in excess of 75 were obtained with reaction times under 24?h, which makes this enzymatic process highly competitive when compared to similar lipase catalyzed reactions for biodiesel production using methanol.     

Preparation of a diacylglycerol-enriched soybean oil by phosphalipase A1 catalyzed hydrolysis

Partial hydrolysis catalyzed by phospholipase A1 (Lecitase Ultra) in a solvent free system was firstly used to produce diacylglycerols (DAGs)-enriched soybean oil. In this study, five reaction parameters namely agitation speed (100–500 rpm), reaction time (2–10 h), water content (10–50 wt% of oil mass), enzyme load (5–40 U/g of oil mass), and reaction temperature (30–70 °C) were investigated. The reaction was up-scaled to 1 kg of soybean oil at 40 °C of reaction temperature, with 300 rpm of agitation speed, 40 wt% of water content, 6 h of reaction time and 22 U/g of enzyme load. Purification by molecular distillation yielded 70% DAG-enriched oil with 42.64 wt% of DAG. The composition of acylglycerols of soybean oil and the DAG-enriched soybean oil was analyzed and identified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and HPLC/electrospray ionization/mass spectrometer. The released fatty acid from the partial hydrolysis of soybean oil catalyzed by phospholipase A1 showed a higher saturated fatty acid content than that of the raw material. Compared to the lipase catalyzed process, this new phospholipase A1 catalyzed one showed the advantages of low amount production of byproduct, namely, monoacylglycerols.     

Transesterification of soybean oil using combusted oyster shell waste as a catalyst

Transesterification of soybean oil catalyzed by combusted oyster shell, which is waste material from shellfish farms, was examined. Powdered oyster shell combusted at a temperature above 700 degrees C, at which point the calcium carbonate of oyster shell transformed to calcium oxide, acted as a catalyst in the transesterification of soybean oil. On the basis of factorial design, the reaction conditions of catalyst concentration and reaction time were optimized in terms of the fatty acid methyl ester concentration expressed as biodiesel purity. Under the optimized reaction conditions of a catalyst concentration and reaction time of 25wt.%. and 5h, respectively, the biodiesel yield, expressed relative to the amount of soybean oil poured into the reaction vial, was more than 70% with high biodiesel purity. These results indicate oyster shell waste combusted at high temperature can be reused in biodiesel production as a catalyst.     

Hydroperoxide-dependent sulfoxidation catalyzed by soybean microsomes

The sulfoxidation of methiocarb, an aromatic-alkyl sulfide pesticide, catalyzed by soybean microsomes was found to be strongly stimulated in the presence of cumene and linoleic acid hydroperoxides. We have shown that this S-oxidation, which does not require cofactors such as NAD(P)H, is an hydroperoxide-dependent reaction: 18O2-labeling experiments demonstrated that the oxygen atom incorporated into the sulfoxide originated from hydroperoxides rather than from molecular oxygen. In the absence of exogenous hydroperoxides, soybean microsomes catalyzed methiocarb sulfoxide formation at a basal rate dependent on their endogenous hydroperoxides, especially those derived from free fatty acids. The nature of the sulfoxidase is discussed. Our results seem to rule out the participation of cytochrome P-450 in this oxidation, whereas the studied sulfoxidase presents some similarities to plant peroxygenase.     

Production of biodiesel fuel from soybean oil catalyzed by fungus whole-cell biocatalysts in ionic liquids

The methanolysis of soybean oil to produce a fatty acid methyl ester (ME, i.e., biodiesel fuel) was catalyzed by lipase-producing filamentous fungi immobilized on biomass support particles (BSPs) as a whole-cell biocatalyst in the presence of ionic liquids. We used four types of whole-cell biocatalysts: wild-type Rhizopus oryzae producing triacylglycerol lipase (w-ROL), recombinant Aspergillus oryzae expressing Fusarium heterosporum lipase (r-FHL), Candida antarctica lipase B (r-CALB), and mono- and diacylglycerol lipase from A. oryzae (r-mdlB). w-ROL gave the high yield of fatty acid methyl ester (ME) in ionic liquid [Emim][BF₄] or [Bmim][BF₄] biphasic systems following a 24 h reaction. While lipases are known to be severely deactivated by an excess amount of methanol (e.g. 1.5 Mequiv. of methanol against oil) in a conventional system, methanolysis successfully proceeded even with a methanol/oil ratio of 4 in the ionic liquid biphasic system, where the ionic liquids would work as a reservoir of methanol to suppress the enzyme deactivation. When only w-ROL was used as a biocatalyst for methanolysis, unreacted mono-glyceride remained due to the 1,3-positional specificity of R. oryzae lipase. High ME conversion was attained by the combined use of two types of whole-cell biocatalysts, w-ROL and r-mdlB. In a stability test, the activity of w-ROL was reduced to one-third of its original value after incubation in [Bmim][BF₄] for 72 h. The stability of w-ROL in [Bmim][BF₄] was greatly enhanced by cross-linking the biocatalyst with glutaraldehyde. The present study demonstrated that ionic liquids are promising candidates for use as the second solvent in biodiesel fuel production by whole-cell biocatalysts.     

1,3‐Regiospecific ethanolysis of soybean oil catalyzed by crosslinked porcine pancreas lipase aggregates

The preparation of crosslinked aggregates of pancreatic porcine lipase (PPL‐CLEA) was systematically studied, evaluating the influence of three precipitants and two crosslinking agents, as well as the use of soy protein as an alternative feeder protein on the catalytic properties and stability of the immobilized PPL. Standard CLEAs showed a global yield (CLEA’ observed activity/offered total activity) of less than 4%, whereas with the addition of soy protein (PPL:soy protein mass ratio of 1:3) the global yield was approximately fivefold higher. The CLEA of PPL prepared with soy protein as feeder (PPL:soy protein mass ratio of 1:3) and glutaraldehyde as crosslinking reagent (10 μmol of aldehyde groups/mg of total protein) was more active mainly because of the reduced enzyme leaching in the washing step. This CLEA, named PPL‐SOY‐CLEA, had an immobilization yield around 60% and an expressed activity around 40%. In the ethanolysis of soybean oil, the PPL‐SOY‐CLEA yielded maximum fatty acid ethyl ester (FAEE) concentration around 12‐fold higher than that achieved using soluble PPL (34 h reaction at 30°C, 300 rpm stirring, soybean oil/ethanol molar ratio of 1:5) with an enzyme load around 2‐fold lower (very likely due to free enzyme inactivation). The operational stability of the PPL‐SOY‐CLEA in the ethanolysis of soybean oil in a vortex flow type reactor showed that FAEE yield was higher than 50% during ten reaction cycles of 24 h. This reactor configuration may be an attractive alternative to the conventional stirred reactors for biotransformations in industrial plants using carrier‐free biocatalysts. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 34:910–920, 2018     

Lipase catalyzed transesterification of soybean oil using ethyl acetate,an alternative acyl acceptor

Methanol, the acyl acceptor usually used in the commercial process of biodiesel production, is associated with some problems such as immiscibility with oils and lipase deactivation. To overcome these barriers, ethyl acetate was proposed as an alternative acyl acceptor for the production of biodiesel from soybean oil using an immobilized lipase, Novozym 435, Ethyl acetate mixed well with soybean oil, and only slightly inhibited the lipase activity by 5%. The effects of various environmental parameters, such as the composition of soybean oil and ethyl acetate, lipase content, and reaction temperature, were investigated to determine the optimal conditions for biodiesel production. As a result, the highest biodiesel production yield, 63.3 (±0.6)%, was obtained by using an ethyl acetate and soybean oil mixture with a 6∶1 molar ratio, with 8% of the immobilized lipase based on the weight of oil added at 70°C and 600 rpm.     

有机相中固定化脂肪酶促有机硅烷醇的转酯

探讨了有机相中固定化脂肪酶（Lipozyme）催化非天然的有机硅院醇与脂肪酸酯转酯反应的可能性;系统地研究了有机溶剂特性、水活度、有机硅烷醇结构、脂肪酸酯碳链长等因素对转酯反应的影响。     

Stereochemistry of the epoxidation of fatty acids catalyzed by soybean peroxygenase

The stereochemistry of C18 unsaturated fatty acids epoxidation catalyzed by detergent-solubilized and partially purified soybean peroxygenase was determined by chiral phase HPLC. Linoleic acid was oxidized into 9, 10- and 12,13-cis-epoxyoctadecenoic acids with a high enantiofacial selectivity. A 5.2:1 and 2.3:1 ratio respectively in favor of the 9(R), 10(S)- and 12(R), 13(S)-epoxy enantiomers was observed. These epoxy-derivatives of linoleic acid have the chirality of metabolites known to be involved in plant defense against fungi. This finding is of importance in establishing a physiological role for the peroxygenase.     

Transesterification between triolein and stearic acid catalyzed by lipase in CO2 at various pressures

Transesterification between triolein and stearic acid catalyzed by lipase in pressurized CO2 at 50 °C was classified into three regions according to the pressure. Below 5 MPa which was the non-solvent region, the reaction was limited in the liquid triolein phase and the reaction rate was very slow. In the near critical region, from 5 to 10 MPa, the reaction rate was maximal at 5.9 MPa because of the stabilization of the enzyme-substrate complex. In the supercritical region, above 10 MPa, the reaction rate increased with an increase in pressure reflecting the increase in solubility of substrate in supercritical CO2 © Rapid Science Ltd. 1998     

Biodiesel production by enzymatic process using Jatropha oil and waste soybean oil

In this study, non-edible Jatropha oil and postcooking waste soybean oil were utilized for enzymatic biodiesel production. The process was optimized by using a statistical method. In addition, a novel continuous process using co-immobilized Rhizopus oryzae and Candida rugosa lipases was developed. The optimum conditions for the batch process were determined to be a reaction temperature of 45oC, an agitation speed of 250 rpm, 10 wt% of water, and 20% of immobilized lipases. A conversion of about 98% at 4 h could be achieved for biodiesel production using Jatropha oil, while a conversion of about 97% at 4 h was achieved from waste soybean oil. A packed bed reactor charged with co-immobilized lipases was employed for continuous biodiesel production from Jatropha and waste soybean oil. The reactor consisted of a jacketed glass column (ID 25 mm × 130 mm), in which a temperature of 45°C was maintained by water circulation. A maximum conversion of about 80% in 24 h at a flow rate of 0.8 mL/ min was achieved with the continuous process, whereas in the two-stage continuous process, a conversion of about 90% in 72 h was attained at a flow rate of 0.1 mL/min.     

Solvent-free glycerolysis of sunflower oil and anchovy oil catalyzed by a 1,3-specific lipase

Solvent-free glycerolysis of sunflower oil catalyzed with lipase D Amano 100 gave the highest partial acylglycerols content at 40°C using an oil:glycerol molar ratio of 1:2 and 500 Units lipase/ g oil. After 6 h, the partial acylglycerols content of the reaction mixture was 53% (w/w). Glycerolysis of anchovy oil catalyzed under the same conditions gave a partial acylglycerols content of 47% (w/w) after 24 h.     

N-dealkylation of aminopyrine catalyzed by soybean lipoxygenase in the presence of hydrogen peroxide

A hypothesis that lipoxygenase may mediate N-dealkylation of xenobiotics was investigated using the prototype drug aminopyrine and soybean lipoxygenase as a model enzyme in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Formaldehyde production as a result of N-demethylation of aminopyrine exhibited pH optimum of 6.5. The reaction was dependent on the incubation time, amount of enzyme, and concentration of aminopyrine and hydrogen peroxide. Under the experimental conditions employed, the specific activity for N-demethylation of aminopyrine was found to be 823 ± 93 nmoles per min/mg protein or 89 ± 10 nmoles per min/nmole of enzyme. The reaction was significantly inhibited by nordihydroguaiaretic acid and gossypol, the classical inhibitors of lipoxygenase. Spectrophotometric analyses indicated the generation of a nitrogen-centered free-radical cation as the initial oxidation product of aminopyrine. The rate of accumulation of this radical species was also dependent on pH, the amount of enzyme, and concentration of aminopyrine and hydrogen peroxide. The radical production was markedly suppressed by ascorbate, glutathione, and dithiothreitol in a concentration-dependent manner. Preliminary data gathered for the oxidation of other chemicals indicated that the lipoxygenase exhibits a unique substrate specificity. Collectively, the evidence presented suggests for the first time that lipoxygenase pathway may be involved in N-demethylation of aminopyrine and other chemicals. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Biochem Toxicol 12: 175–183, 1998     

Learning is improved by a soybean oil diet in rats

A semi-synthetic diet containing 20% polyunsaturated fat (soybean) oil was fed to young male hooded rats for 21 days. These animals exhibited improved performance on an environmentally-cued testing paradigm which is thought to reflect cognitive learning skills (i.e., Place Navigation Water Task). Other rats fed the same base diet but containing 20% saturated fat (lard) showed no such improvement compared to chow-fed (4.5% mixed fat) controls. The animals fed soybean oil also exhibited a transient resistance to extinguish this learning. This improved learning could not be explained by changes in general motor activity, basal body temperature, energy consumption, body weight, or in the brain activity of choline acetyltransferase, the marker enzyme for cholinergic neurons. These findings constitute the first evidence that short-term variations in the quality of dietary fat can enhance mammalian learning.     

Production of extremely pure diacylglycerol from soybean oil by lipase-catalyzed glycerolysis

Research work was objectively targeted to synthesize highly pure diacylglycerol (DAG) with glycerolysis of soybean oil in a solvent medium of t-butanol. Three commercial immobilized lipases (Lipozyme RM IM, Lipozyme TL IM and Novozym 435) were screened, and Novozym 435 was the best out of three candidates. Batch reaction conditions of the enzymatic glycerolysis, the substrate mass ratio, the reaction temperature and the substrate concentration, were studied. The optimal reaction conditions were achieved as 6.23:1 mass ratio of soybean oil to glycerol, 40% (w/v) of substrate concentration in t-butanol and reaction temperature of 50 °C. A two-stage molecular distillation was employed for purification of DAG from reaction products. Scale-up was attempted based on the optimized reaction conditions, 98.7% (24 h) for the conversion rate of soybean oil, 48.5% of DAG in the glycerolysis products and 96.1% for the content of DAG in the final products were taken in account as the results.