Production of immobilized extracellular lipase from Aspergillus Niger by solid state fermentation method using palm kernel cake, soybean meal, and coir pith as the substrate

Microbial lipase has shown great potentials as a biocatalyst due to its ability to perform hydrolytic activities at low temperature and pressure conditions. Many researches prove that agro-industrial residues can be an excellent substrate for the production of lipase by solid state fermentation (SSF). This study aimed to produce extracellular lipase from solid state fermentation of filamentous fungi Aspergillus Niger by SSF on agro-industrial residues such as palm kernel cake, soybean meal, and coir pith. Fermentation was carried out at room temperature, initial pH of 7, with no stirring or aeration. Produced enzymes were later characterized at several inducer concentration and incubation period. This research obtained lipase with highest activity of 163.33 U/g dss using soybean meal with 9 days of incubation and addition of 4% olive oil. Lipase activity was further investigated by spray drying and immobilization using anion-macroporous resin. Spray dried lipase showed enzyme loading of 53.7%. Immobilized enzyme was analyzed by utilizing it as a biocatalyst for interesterification reaction in non-alcohol route of biodiesel synthesis in batch reactor with 1:12 of reactant palm oil and methyl acetate at 40 °C and 50 hour cycle. Immobilized enzyme has 47.3% biodiesel yield and maintained 57% of its initial activity after four cycle of interesterification.