Lipase-catalyzed biotransformation of fungal lipids into biodiesel via bacterial enzymes or whole cell catalysts
has been considered as one of the most promising methods to produce applicable, renewable and
environmentally friendly alternative liquid fuels. Four highly lipolytic bacterial isolates were isolated
from seeds and grains of some plant species and screened for their potentiality to synthesis of fatty acid
methyl esters (FAME) by lipase esterification process for the production of cost-competitive biodiesel.
The four isolates were identified based on phenotypic and gene encoding 16S rRNA as Bacillus vallismortis
ASU 3 (KP777551), Bacillus tequilensis ASU 11 (KP777550), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens ASU 16 (KP777549)
and Bacillus firmus ASU 32 (KP777552). Among the four tested bacterial lipases, extracellular lipase of B
firmus ASU 32 (KP777552) showed the highest activity toward the transesterification of fungal lipids as
71.2% of total fatty acid methyl eseters (FAMEs). B. firmus ASU 32 lipases displayed a higher thermal stability
and methanol tolerance ensuring their application as a promising biocatalyst for FAME synthesis.
The results proved that, the most active acyl acceptors for biodiesel production from fungal lipids by
B. firmus lipase were methanol and ethyl acetate. B. firmus has applicable future as a whole cell biocatalyst
for FAME synthesis from fungal lipids. Alleviation the inhibitory effect of methanol in the transesterification
process of fungal lipids by lipases might be performed through separation of hydrolysis step from
esterification process by methanol for FAME synthesis. This paper is expected to provide a competitive
economic outcome for industrial FAME synthesis.