Abstract. Eversa Transform was used as an enzymatic catalyst to transform glandless and crude (heavy pigment) cottonseed oils into biodiesel. The oils were reacted with methanol at a 6:1 molar ratio with modified amounts of water, lipase, and temperature. Reactions were conducted in the presence of lipase and water at doses of 2, 5, and 8 wt% and 1, 3, and 6 wt%, respectively. Product composition and conversion were determined using the gas chromatography method of ASTM D6584. Oxidative stability was determined following EN 15751. The conversion to fatty acid methyl esters averaged 98.5% across all samples. Temperature had the most significant effect on conversion (p < 0.0035). Lipase and water dosages did not affect conversion, while each had an effect with temperature that was significant across the difference between 3 and 1 wt% water content and between 8 and 5 wt% enzyme content between the two temperatures (p = 0.0018 and 0.0153), respectively. Induction periods (oxidative stability) of the glandless and crude cottonseed oils were significantly different, but there was no difference between the two oil conversions based on oil type. Keywords: Biodiesel, Cottonseed oil, Fatty acid methyl esters, Lipase, Oxidative stability, Transesterification.
Ce/kaolin clay as an active catalyst for fatty acid methyl esters production from cottonseed oil in a new integrated apparatus