title: Transesterification of used edible and non-edible oils to alkyl esters by Aspergillus sp. as a whole cell catalyst.
abstract: Aspergillus sp. (MTCC 5436), isolated from contaminated clarified butter was used as a whole cell catalyst for transesterification of oils from different sources. The strain was observed to be tolerant and grow in 90% oil as carbon source. Oils of Jathropa, karanj and spent cottonseed were used as carbon sources in the study. The product, alkyl ester, was characterized and quantified using (1) H-NMR. The strain was observed to facilitate transesterification in an oil:minimal medium with the ratio of 70:30 resulting in a 98% conversion of oil to ethyl esters within 48 h at 28 °C and 120 rpm. The physico-chemical characteristics of the ethyl ester (>98%) at 70% oil as carbon source were similar to the standards specified for biodiesel as per standards of American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), India.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Thapar University, India. rprakash@thapar.edu
authors.forename: Ranjana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prakash
authors.forename: Satnam S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Aulakh
mesh_terms: D001230:Aspergillus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D002079:Butter / Q000382:microbiology; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D004951:Esterification; D004952:Esters / Q000378:metabolism*; D007194:India; D007700:Kinetics; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D009821:Oils / Q000378:metabolism*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D004952:Esters; D009821:Oils; D002244:Carbon; D002079:Butter