Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) oil: A source of alternative fuel through enzyme technology

Production of alternative energy sources from eco-friendly raw materials is supposed to be the most challenging job among researchers and academicians in the present world. Biodiesel has been considered as most useful green energy sources which is produced from Crude Neem (Azadirachta indica) oil (CNO) in the present study. The main advantages of CNO is that it is non-edible and is obtained abundantly in nature from neem seed. Initially, after bleaching of CNO, it is transesterified with methanol in the presence of non-specific enzyme catalyst Novozyme 40013 (Candida antarctica) maintaining certain reaction conditions. The parameters of the transesterification reaction have been identified as 8:1 molar ratio of methanol to CNO, 60 °C temperature in the presence of 6% enzyme Novozyme 40013 and 600 rpm of mixing intensity for 9 hrs of reaction duration. The product obtained, after completion of reaction, has been estimated of 91.24% biodiesel along with minor amounts of triacylglycerol (TAG), diacylglycerol (DAG) and monoacylglycerol (MAG). Finally, the physico-chemical properties of CNO biodiesel have been analysed and it showed good conformity with diesel fuel and biodiesel standard.