Abu Bakar Muhammad

Biodiesel-a New Energy Economy Abu Bakar Muhammad

The expected depletion of fossil fuels within a century has compelled to seek renewable energy sources. Biodiesel is considered as most the promising renewable energy source that is anticipated to satisfy the escalating global energy demands. Lipases (triacylglycerol acylhydrolases, EC 3.1.1.3) are ubiquitous carboxylesterases that catalyze the hydrolysis of long chain triacylglycerols to glycerol and long chain free fatty acids at oil/water interface. Biodiesel is a mixture of Fatty Acid Monoalkyl Esters (FAME) fabricated by the reaction of the triglycerides (in the oil or fat) by the mean of monohydric and small chain alcohol. This reaction is known as transesterification or alcoholysis.