Repetitive use of cooking oil under high temperature leads to qualitative changes in its physical and chemical properties such as increase in polarity, viscosity, color darkening, decrease in smoking point etc. Due to thermal oxidation of oil by atmospheric oxygen, various toxic derivatives such as 1,2-epoxy hexadecane, 1,2-epoxy hexadecane, 1,2-acetyloxy methyl ester are formed. When cooking oil waste was treated with lipase produced by Penicillium chrysogenum using grease waste as a substrate, its acid value increased by 55%.  From Gas Chromatography analysis, it was found that free fatty acid derived from lipase treated waste cooking oil contains oleic acid (17.4%), stearic acid (5.44%), behenic acid (17.16%), docosahexaenoic acid (6.88%) and caprylic acid (3.45%). These long chain fatty acids can be explored for soap production. Biotransformation of 10% (w/v) waste cooking oil by 5 ml of lipase showed saponification value of 94 mgKOH/g, which is very high. FTIR analysis displayed a broad peak at 3400 cm-1 and band around 2925 and 2854 cm-1 representing the polar end of the soap structure and methylene stretch of long chain fatty acids, respectively. IR radiation between 1675 and 1500 cm-1 indicated characteristic peaks of the soap formed. The entire process of biotransformation of waste cooking oil was very cost-effective and sustainable

Lipase mediated biotransformation of waste cooking oil into soap

246th National Meeting (2013)

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