Concentration of Lipase from <i>Aspergillus oryzae</i> Expressing <i>Fusarium heterosporum</i> by Nanofiltration to Enhance Transesterification

• Main Authors: Hans Wijaya, Kengo Sasaki, Prihardi Kahar, Emmanuel Quayson, Nova Rachmadona, Jerome Amoah, Shinji Hama, Chiaki Ogino, Akihiko Kondo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-04-01
• Series: Processes
• Subjects: nanofiltration; lipase; Fusarium heterosporum; fatty acid methyl ester
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9717/8/4/450

Nanofiltration membrane separation is an energy-saving technology that was used in this study to concentrate extracellular lipase and increase its total activity for biodiesel production. Lipase was produced by recombinant <i>Aspergillus oryzae</i> expressing <i>Fusarium heterosporum</i> lipase (FHL). A sulfonated polyethersulfone nanofiltration membrane, NTR-7410, with a molecular weight cut-off of 3 kDa was used for the separation, because recombinant lipase has a molecular weight of approximately 20 kDa, which differs from commercial lipase at around 30 kDa for Callera^TM Trans L (CalT). After concentration via nanofiltration, recombinant lipase achieved a 96.8% yield of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) from unrefined palm oil, compared to 50.2% for CalT in 24 h. Meanwhile, the initial lipase activity (32.6 U/mL) of recombinant lipase was similar to that of CalT. The composition of FAME produced from recombinant concentrated lipase, i.e., C14:1, C16:0, C18:0, C18:1 cis, and C18:2 cis were 0.79%, 34.46%, 5.41%, 45.90%, and 12.46%, respectively, after transesterification. This FAME composition, even after being subjected to nanofiltration, was not significantly different from that produced from CalT. This study reveals the applicability of a simple and scalable nanofiltration membrane technology that can enhance enzymatic biodiesel production.