Question

Lipase is a versatile industrial enzyme that can be applied to various industries. It is one of the most important classes of hydrolytic enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of triacylglycerol to diacylglycerol, fatty acids and glycerol. You are a bioprocess engineer assigned by your superior to work with a biotechnologist to provide a proposal on the upstream and downstream processing of microbial lipase targeted to the biodiesel processing application. To begin the project, you are required to present a preliminary investigation report on the following.

Select a suitable microorganism and a lipid carbon source that can be applied to produce microbial lipase for the targeted application economically at industrial scale with justifications. Also, outline the operating conditions for the cultivation of the selected microorganism in the bioreactor to produce microbial lipase.

thank for help

Answer 1

Ans: As lipase is an extracellular enzyme, better produced economically by submerged fermentation process.

Isolation of microorganism: Microorganism must be isolated from oil spilled area like garage, oil mills and railway workshop.Bacillus subtilis reported as best producer.

Substrate: Media or carbon source used will be waste cooking oil or any oil.

Condition: temp:37⁰C PH 7 agitation 120rpm.

Produced lipase can be purified and can be used for biodiesel production.