Understanding the Biocatalytic Potential of Lipase from Rhizopus chinensis

Lipases occupy the third position in the world market for the sale of the most industrially used enzymes, being one of the most versatile and promising classes, highlighting the genus Rhizopus chinensis, which is exceptionally useful as biocatalysts for short-chain fatty acid esterification reactions with ethanol, biodiesel, and n-heptane when used directly in the solvent-free system and in potential critical applications. In this context, the present work presents the first complete general review of the lipases of the genus Rhizopus chinensis focusing on their industrial applications, in addition to the different immobilization techniques and the main reactions as biocatalysts, since these are an excellent alternative due to their advantages in economic accessibility and respect for the environment. In addition, they have high specificity catalytic activity for esterification and transesterification reactions in the presence or absence of organic solvents; they can also have great thermophilicity and moderate pressure resistance, with their catalytic behavior modulated by changes in these conditions. This review showed that Rhizopus chinensis lipase has ample potential for many other biotechnological applications with the appropriate chemical modifications and immobilization strategy.

Rapid and efficient synthesis of formamidines in a catalyst-free and solvent-free system

Rapid and efficient synthesis of formamidines via complete cleavage of CC in a catalyst-free and solvent-free system.

Cocoa olein glycerolysis with lipase Candida antarctica in a solvent free system

In this paper we present the valorization of cocoa olein obtained from the acid fat-splitting of soapstocks. The aim is to develop a solvent free process (enzymatically catalyzed) to maximize the production of a final product with high content of monoglycerides (MAG) and diglycerides (DAG). The effect of the enzyme dose, glycerol content, reaction times as well as the modification of the raw material and pressure were studied. The yield of the reaction increased up to 90-95% when using a vacuum of 2-3 mbar at 65 °C, enough to evaporate the water which is generated as a by-product, an enzyme dose of 1% and molar ratio oil:glycerol of 1:2. The highest yield in terms of MAG and DAG production was obtained by starting from a raw material which was rich in free acidity (FFA), rendering oil with 33.4 and 44.2% MAG and DAG, respectively. Short reaction times (6-8 h) were observed compared to previously reported results (24 h).