Screening for lipase-producing Enterobacter agglomerans for biodiesel catalyzation

This paper reports a comprehensive study of screening rapeseed soil sample in Victoria blue solution solid medium, with olive oil as sole carbon source. The lipase of Enterobacter agglomerans which has the highest activity was identified. Under the optimum conditions determined, the enzyme activity of this strain reached 39.09 U/mL. The optimal conditions were found to be: initial pH 7.0, agitating at 30C for 48 h, with 2.0% (w/v) lactose as carbon source, 1.5% (w/v) beef extract and 1.0% (w/v) yeast extract as nitrogen source, and 0.1% (w/v) MgSO sub(4); 7H sub(2)O. Olive oil, sesame oil and tea oil as raw materials can be catalyzed to biodiesel by the lipase of this strain at 30C and 180 rpm. And the yield reached 54.51% with sesame oil as raw material, even when they contained 92.4% (w/v) water in the starting materials. This strain will potentially serve as a promising alternative lipase for biodiesel production with raw materials containing water.