Biodiesel from babassu oil: Characterization of the product obtained by enzymatic route accelerated by microwave irradiation

Babassu biodiesel was obtained by ethanolysis using Burkholderia cepacia lipase immobilized on SiO2-PVA as catalyst in microwave reactor. The effect of temperature and the ethanol-to-oil molar ratio on the biodiesel yield was studied using rotational central composite design (CCD). Under optimal conditions, full conversion was attained at a reaction time of 10 h. The purified product contained no glycerol-bound compounds, as verified by H-1 NMR. In addition, other properties, such as specific gravity (870 kg m(-3)) and viscosity (4.2 mm(2) s(-1)), are in accordance with standard fuel specifications. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.