An efficient and recyclable Pickering magnetic interface biocatalyst: application in biodiesel production

Green and efficient catalysts for the production of biodiesel are highly important. In this study, a Pickering magnetic interface biocatalyst (Fe 3 O 4 @PS-NH-lipase) was prepared, which can effectively stabilize the soybean oil-in-methanol emulsion and achieve static transesterification. When the appropriate methanol/soybean oil molar ratio and catalyst loading were chosen, the Pickering interface biocatalyst exhibited outstanding enzymatic activity, reaching a conversion rate of 89.3% after 30 h. Pickering interfacial catalysis (PIC, immobilizing catalytic centers on a carrier and combining it with a Pickering emulsion) shows more significant specific activity, leading to a 1.2-fold improvement in catalytic performance as compared to Pickering assisted catalysis (PAC, relying on the use of nanoparticles for stabilizing Pickering emulsions together with a homogeneous catalyst). Moreover, the recycled catalyst still possesses significant catalytic activity after 5 cycles. This article provides a green and efficient strategy for the effective recovery of biologically active substances and the enhancement of biphasic reactions. A magnetically responsive Pickering interface biocatalytic system was used as an efficient platform for the separation and reuse of catalysts in biodiesel production.