Efficient bio-conversion of glycerol to glycerol carbonate catalyzed by lipase extracted from Aspergillus niger

A biocatalytic synthesis of glycerol carbonate (GlyC), as an added-value product of renewable glycerol, has been developed using a catalytic route in which glycerol (Gly) was reacting with dimethyl carbonate (DMC) in the presence of lipase under solvent-free conditions. The enzyme screening indicated lipase from Aspergillus niger as the most efficient biocatalyst for the GlyC synthesis. After the optimization of the reaction conditions it was established that the best results corresponded to 12% (w/w) Aspergillus niger lipase, to a glycerol : DMC molar ratio of 1 : 10, to an incubation time of 4 h and to an incubation temperature of 60 degrees C. Consequently, the glycerol conversion was around 74%, the yield in GlyC of 59.3% and the selectivity to GlyC of 80.3%. Recycling experiments demonstrated that the biocatalyst can be successfully used for several reaction cycles (at least 4 times) and confirmed its very high stability under the reaction conditions.