Researchers at the University of Vigo discovered an enzyme for the production of biodiesel and medications

A research team from the University of Vigo has identified an enzyme, protein that catalyzes a chemical reactions, useful for the production of biodiesel and medications such as ibuprofen or the treatment of Alzheimer's, applications that are currently studying. The finding of the University comes from a bacterium that can be born and grow in water at temperatures so high that he possesses the rare ability to produce enzymes extremofílicas, i.e., able to act in a position to proteins environmental severe. This organism can grow up to 100 degrees centigrade and works by catalyzing chemical reactions in a respectful way with the environment. The operation of this molecule, which is used every day in products such as detergents, consists of the breakdown of fats, which is why fatty acids are released. Precisely, that is the reaction that produces biodiesel and, being a chemical process, possessing a clean part.

The production of biodiesel from lipases follows a mechanism 'similar' to the detergents, to ' break the Union of the acid and the Glycerin '. In this way, the fatty acid creeps and passes to the water, while fat is It solubiliza. For biodiesel, it follows the same process but in time to break the Union replaces the glycerine by methanol. This contribution of alcohol achieved that the reaction generates biofuel.

The Professor of analytical chemistry and food of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Ourense and coordinator of the work, Lorenzo Pastrana, last sale of the patent of lipase, name of the discovered enzyme, a chemical company. According to Pastrana, the patent will be business results within a period of six years as a way to produce clean energy from, for example, of sunflower oil. Currently, the biodiesel is obtained through chemical products that generate waste.