Prof.  Hamid  Mukhtar
Government College University,  Pakistan

Title: Green synthesis of biodiesel through lipase mediated transesterification of non-conventional oils and exhaust emission studies

Abstract:

An increased interest in reducing the dependability on petroleum based diesel fuel, reducing the exhaust emission levels and improving the quality of air has led to many researches on designing a paramount method for biodiesel production which is an alternative energy source.  In the present study, experimental results from chemical mediated as well as lipase mediated methods were compared by using common influencing parameters such as methanol/oil molar ratio, catalyst concentration, reaction time and reaction temperature. Biodiesel conversion of 96% was achieved by alkali mediated transesterification, whereas the conversion rate was 87% for lipase mediated method. The results of field experiments of exhaust emission studies by using different blends of biodiesel gave the impression that usage of Lewatit immobilized lipase for the biodiesel production from used cooking oil was superior method as compared to KOH mediated biodiesel production. The biodiesel production process was further improved by immobilizing the lipase on different types of nanoparticles thus developing a nanobiocatalyst. The average percentage reduction of 57.2% and 54.7% in the emissions of CO and PM, respectively was observed in the biodiesel blend B100.

Biography:

Dr. Hamid Mukhtar did his Masters in Plant Sciences and then PhD in Biotechnology from GC University Lahore, one of the top ranked institution inSouth East Asia. He has expertise in the field Bioprocess Engineering for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology. He has published about 50 research papers and currently working for the development of a number of bioprocesses for various industries such as Food, Pharmaceutical and Leather industries. He has also successfully developed some novel bioprocesses. Currently he is working on the synthesis/production of pharmaceutically important oligopeptides, amino acids, lipid lowering drugs and antibiotics.