Application of Different Methodologies to Produce Fatty Acid Esters Using the Waste Chicken Fat Catalyzed by Free NS 40116 Lipase

The use of a residue such as chicken fat as a substrate for enzymatic conversion can make enzymatic biodiesel production economically feasible. The present study aims to evaluate the application of free lipase NS 40116 in transesterification and hydroesterification reactions using waste chicken fat (WCF) and methanol or ethanol as substrates. After 24 h, the ethyl transesterification reaction yielded 72.09% ethyl esters, methyl hydroesterification led to a conversion of 89.04%, while the ethylic route led to a conversion of 63.50%. The presence of water in the hydrolysate allowed ethyl ester content of 59.13% in 4 h. Without the presence of water, 12% ethyl esters within 24 h of reaction were obtained. The use of WCF and free lipase in the production of fatty acid esters showed satisfactory responses with potential for industrial application.