Fidia Fibriana, Apichat Upaichit
The increasing demand for sustainable energy has driven interest in enzymatic biodiesel production, where lipases offer an eco-friendly alternative to chemical catalysts. This study aimed to optimize methanol-tolerant lipase production from yeast for biodiesel synthesis. Among four yeast strains tested, Saprochaete clavata 17B exhibited the highest extracellular lipase (ECL) activity at 457 U/L. Sequential optimization using the Taguchi method followed by response surface methodology–central composite design (RSM-CCD) was performed. The optimization experiments were conducted in two experiments with two different media formulations, using vegetable and alternative oils, under shaking conditions (200 rpm, 30 ± 2 °C, 120 h). The use of vegetable and alternative oils enhanced the ECL production to 5,277 and 3,260 U/L, respectively. Concentrated ECL obtained through ammonium sulfate saturation at 60-80% (w/v) showed a 7.4-fold increase in specific activity and was stable in the presence of 10% and 30% methanol. The lipase displayed optimal activity at pH 8.0 and room temperature, and its catalytic efficiency was evaluated in the transesterification of palm oil and Jatropha curcas seed oil, yielding 98% and 63% fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), respectively, while esterification of oleic acid produced 62% FAME. In conclusion, S. clavata 17B lipase represents a promising methanol-tolerant biocatalyst for industrial biodiesel applications, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical processes. © 2026, Walailak University. All rights reserved.
Cluster of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Central Java, Semarang, 50229, Indonesia; International Program of Biotechnology, Center of Excellence in Innovative Biotechnology for Sustainable Utilization of Bioresources, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, 90110, Thailand
