Environmentally friendly processes from coffee wastes to trimethylolpropane esters to be considered biolubricants

In this study, an eco-friendly renewable biodegradable alternative to petroleum-based oil lubricants was produced using espresso coffee wastes. Waste coffee oil used as raw material was extracted from Espresso coffee wastes by Soxhlet and conventional solvent extraction. Free fatty acids (FFA) were obtained by hydrolysis of the obtained waste oil using Lipozyme TL IM (Thermomyces lanuginosus). The byproduct, glycerol, was also separated from the reaction medium using a separatory funnel. The obtained FFA was used as a raw material in the production of TMP esters. Polyol esters of fatty acids were synthesized as a result of the esterification reaction between FFA and polyol alcohol (trimethylolpropane (TMP)) using Novozyme 435 (Candida antarctica). The amount of FFA in the medium and the FFA conversion was determined by titration with NaOH solution according to ASTM D 5555-95 standard and the FFA composition of espresso coffee oil by GC. The oil content of espresso coffee extract was found to be rich by 16% and the FFA composition was rich in palmitic acid (C_16:0 43% by weight) and linoleic acid (C_18:2 31% by weight). 31% of FFA was obtained from the coffee oil. Experimental studies have shown that the highest FFA conversion of 88% with 93% TMP tri-ester content was obtained at a temperature of 55°C, 5% enzyme (w/w), non-aqueous media, 3/1 FFA/TMP mole ratio, 500 rpm mixing speed and 24 hours. Implications: Filter coffee wastes, which have become one of the most important biological wastes with an annual production capacity of 6 million tons worldwide; It is targeted to be transformed into environmentally friendly products, as it is important in terms of economy and policies of many developing countries, it is a renewable resource and there is a high amount of waste accumulation day by day. Evaluation of waste filter coffees and oils with this research article; It is envisaged that the bio-lubricating oil used in many sectors will be synthesized and commercialized with an environmentally friendly process.

A Novel Fungal Lipase With Methanol Tolerance and Preference for Macaw Palm Oil

Macaw palm is a highly oil-producing plant, which presents high contents of free fatty acids, being a promising feedstock for biofuel production. The current chemical routes are costly and complex, involving highly harsh industrial conditions. Enzymatic processing is a potential alternative; however, it is hampered by the scarce knowledge on biocatalysts adapted to this acidic feedstock. This work describes a novel lipase isolated from the thermophilic fungus Rasamsonia emersonii (ReLip), which tolerates extreme conditions such as the presence of methanol, high temperatures, and acidic medium. Among the tested feedstocks, the enzyme showed the highest preference for macaw palm oil, producing a hydrolyzate with a final free fatty acid content of 92%. Crystallographic studies revealed a closed conformation of the helical amphipathic lid that typically undergoes conformational changes in a mechanism of interfacial activation. Such conformation of the lid is stabilized by a salt bridge, not observed in other structurally characterized homologs, which is likely involved in the tolerance to organic solvents. Moreover, the lack of conservation of the aromatic cluster IxxWxxxxxF in the lid of ReLip with the natural mutation of the phenylalanine by an alanine might be correlated with the preference of short acyl chains, although preserving catalytic activity on insoluble substrates. In addition, the presence of five acidic amino acids in the lid of ReLip, a rare property reported in other lipases, may have contributed to its ability to tolerate and be effective in acidic environments. Therefore, our work describes a new fungal biocatalyst capable of efficiently hydrolyzing macaw oil, an attractive feedstock for the production of "drop-in" biofuels, with high desirable feature for industrial conditions such as thermal and methanol tolerance, and optimum acidic pH. Moreover, the crystallographic structure was elucidated, providing a structural basis for the enzyme substrate preference and tolerance to organic solvents.

Hydrolysis Activity of Virgin Coconut Oil Using Lipase from Different Sources

Two types of lipase, Candida rugosa lipase (CRL) and porcine pancreas lipase (PPL), were used to hydrolyze virgin coconut oil (VCO). The hydrolysis process was carried out under four parameters, VCO to buffer ratio, lipase concentration, pH, and temperature, which have a significant effect on hydrolysis of lipase. CRL obtained the best hydrolysis condition at 1 : 5 of VCO to buffer ratio, 1.5% of CRL concentration, pH 7, and temperature of 40°C. Meanwhile, PPL gave different results at 1 : 4 of VCO to buffer ratio, 2% of lipase concentration, pH 7.5, and 40°C. The highest hydrolysis degree of CRL and PPL was obtained after 16 hours and 26 hours, reaching 79.64% and 27.94%, respectively. Besides, the hydrolysis process was controlled at different time course (every half an hour) at the first 4 hours of reaction to compare the initial hydrolysis degree of these two lipase types. FFAs from hydrolyzed products were isolated and determined the percentage of each fatty acid which contributes to the FFAs mixture. As a result, medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) made up the main contribution in composition of FFAs and lauric acid (C12) was the largest segment (47.23% for CRL and 44.23% for PPL).

Antibacterial Activity of Free Fatty Acids from Hydrolyzed Virgin Coconut Oil Using Lipase from Candida rugosa

Free fatty acids (FFAs) were obtained from hydrolyzed virgin coconut oil (VCO) by Candida rugosa lipase (CRL). Four factors' influence on hydrolysis degree (HD) was examined. The best hydrolysis conditions in order to get the highest HD value were determined at VCO to buffer ratio 1 : 5 (w/w), CRL concentration 1.5% (w/w oil), pH 7, and temperature 40°C. After 16 hours' reaction, the HD value achieved 79.64%. FFAs and residual hydrolyzed virgin coconut oil (HVCO) were isolated from the hydrolysis products. They were tested for their antibacterial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, which can be found in contaminated food and cause food poisoning. FFAs showed their inhibition against Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 11774), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Salmonella enteritidis (ATCC 13076), and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) at minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 50%, 60%, 20%, and 40%, respectively. However, VCO and HVCO did not show their antibacterial activity against these tested bacteria.

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Potential of Palm Leaf Extracts from Babaçu (Attalea speciosa), Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa), and Macaúba (Acrocomia aculeata)

Babaçu (A. speciosa), Buriti (M. flexuosa), and Macaúba (A. aculeata) are palm trees typical of the ecotone area between Cerrado and the Amazon rainforest. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of the extracts prepared from the leaves of those palms as well as determine their chemical compositions. The ethanol extracts were prepared in a Soxhlet apparatus and tested by disk diffusion and agar dilution technique against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, and Candida parapsilosis. However, there was no significant activity at concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 mg·Ml⁻¹. Moreover, the phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, catechins, steroids, triterpenes, and saponins. Gas chromatography (GC/MS) analysis also identified organic acids, such as capric (decanoic) acid, lauric (dodecanoic) acid, myristic (tetradecanoic) acid, phthalic (1,2-benzenedicarboxylic) acid, palmitic (hexadecanoic) acid, stearic (octadecanoic) acid, linoleic (9,12-octadecadienoic) acid (omega-6), linolenic (octadecatrienoic) acid (omega-3), and the terpenes citronellol and phytol. Based on the chemical composition in the palm leaf extracts, the palms have the potential to be useful in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries.

Continuous Catalyst-Free Esterification of Oleic Acid in Compressed Ethanol

The esterification of oleic acid in a continuous catalyst-free process using compressed ethanol was investigated in the present study. Experiments were performed in a tubular reactor and variables investigated were temperature, pressure, and oleic acid to ethanol molar ratio for different residence time. Results demonstrated that temperature, in the range of 473 K to 573 K, and pressure had a positive effect on fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) production. In the experimental range investigated, high conversions can be obtained at low ethanol concentrations in the reaction medium and it was observed that oleic acid to ethanol molar ratios greater than 1 : 6 show no significant increase in conversion. Nonnegligible reaction conversions (>90%) were achieved at 573 K, 20 MPa, oleic acid to ethanol molar ratio of 1 : 6, and 20 minutes of residence time.