Transesterification of castor oil catalyzed by a fermented solid produced by Burkholderia contaminans using a bioreactor coupled with ultrasound irradiation.

In this work, ultrasound was used to assist the ethanolysis of castor oil in a solvent-free system, catalyzed by a dry fermented solid containing the lipase from Burkholderia contaminans (BCFS). Reactions were done at 45°C. The maximum conversion in Erlenmeyer flasks was 71% in 96 h, using a loading of 9% (mass of BCFS in relation to the mass of triacylglycerols in the castor oil) and a molar ratio of ethanol:oil of 6:1, with addition of ethanol in 12 steps.