title: Biodiesel Production: Utilization of Loofah Sponge to Immobilize Rhizopus chinensis CGMCC #3.0232 Cells as a Whole-Cell Biocatalyst.
abstract: Rhizopus chinensis cells immobilized on loofah (Luffa cylindrica) sponges were used to produce biodiesel via the transesterification of soybean oil. In whole-cell immobilization, loofah sponge is considered to be a superior alternative to conventional biomass carriers because of its biodegradable and renewable properties. During cell cultivation, Rhizopus chinensis mycelia can spontaneously and firmly adhere to the surface of loofah sponge particles. The optimal conditions for processing 9.65 g soybean oil at 40°C and 180 rpm using a 3:1 methanol-to-oil molar ratio were found to be 8% cell addition and 3-10% water content (depending on the oil's weight). Under optimal conditions, an over 90% methyl ester yield was achieved after the first reaction batch. The operational stability of immobilized Rhizopus chinensis cells was assayed utilizing a 1:1 methanol-to-oil molar ratio, thus resulting in a 16.5-fold increase in half-life when compared with immobilized cells of the widely studied Rhizopus oryzae. These results suggest that transesterification of vegetable oil using Rhizopus chinensis whole cells immobilized onto loofah sponge is an effective approach for biodiesel production.
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, P.R. China.|College of Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biomass-Based Green Fuels and Chemicals, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, P.R. China.|Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, St. Paul MN, 55108-6005, USA.
authors.forename: Qiyang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, P.R. China.|College of Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biomass-Based Green Fuels and Chemicals, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Qianjun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, P.R. China.|College of Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biomass-Based Green Fuels and Chemicals, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yuejiao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, P.R. China.|College of Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biomass-Based Green Fuels and Chemicals, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, P.R. China.|College of Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biomass-Based Green Fuels and Chemicals, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, St. Paul MN, 55108-6005, USA.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, P.R. China.|College of Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biomass-Based Green Fuels and Chemicals, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055162:Biocatalysis; D056804:Biofuels; D018533:Biomass; D018914:Cells, Immobilized / Q000378:metabolism*; D029776:Luffa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology*; D000432:Methanol / Q000378:metabolism; D008738:Methyl Ethers / Q000378:metabolism; D011161:Porifera / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology*; D012233:Rhizopus / Q000378:metabolism*; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D014867:Water; D000432:Methanol
keywords: Biodiesel; Rhizopus chinensis; loofah sponge; transesterification; whole cell