Biodiesel production using a mixture of immobilized Rhizopus oryzae and Candida rugosa lipases

Biodiesel conversion from soybean oil reached a maximum of 70% at 18 h using immobilized 1,3-specific Rhizopus oryzae lipase alone. Biodiesel conversion failed to reach 20% after 30 h when immobilized nonspecific Candida rugosa lipase alone was used. To increase the biodiesel production yield, a mixture of immobilized 1,3-specific R. oryzae lipase and nonspecific C. rugosa lipase was used. Using this mixture a conversion of greater than 99% at 21 h was attained. When the stability of the immobilized lipases mixture was tested, biodiesel conversion was maintained at over 80% of its original conversion after 10 cycles.