Enzymatic hydrolysis of methyl esters catalyzed by free liquid lipases for the production of fatty acids

Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) and fatty acid (FA) are important oleochemical intermediates. The conversion of FA to FAME via esterification is well-established, but not the reverse conversion of FAME to FA. From past literature, FAME can be hydrolyzed to FA using acid catalysts. However, acid catalysts are corrosive and require harsh operating temperatures and pressures. Recently, enzymes have emerged as greener catalysts for oleochemical production. As such, this thesis reports the development of an enzymatic FAME hydrolysis process using free liquid lipases. These findings could potentially inspire the future development of an alternative process route for industrial-scale FA production.