Technology Description:

The invention is a method of making materials having a variety of industrial uses, such as automotive fuels and lubricants. Waste products such as animal fats, vegetable oils, rendered fats and restaurant grease are used as the starting material, and combined with alcohol and lipase for transesterfying triglyceride-containing substances in the starting material to form the end product. Solvent may also be added as needed in order to improve the reaction process.

When the reaction is complete, the alkyl ester products are separated from the residual reaction mixture by conventional methods, such as filtration, for the removal of the enzyme and any solvent. In general, the specific lipase used to obtain a particular reaction depends on the desired end product. The lipase-catalyzed method of the invention is more efficient than chemical methods, and also offers advantages such as minimal waste residue and low reaction temperatures. The technology is applicable for the fuel and lubricant industry. Companies engaged in the manufacture of recycling of wastes would also benefit from the technology.

Please refer to Patent Number 5,713,965, "Production of Biodiesel, Lubricants and Fuel and Lubricant Additives," which issued on February 3, 1998.