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Extracellular lipase from Yarrowia lipolytica was immobilized by ionotropic gelation with alginate and chitosan as encapsulating agents. Photomicrographs revealed a collapsed and heterogeneous surface of these microcapsules due to freeze-drying process. The optimum reaction temperature for the microencapsulated lipase (40 °C) was higher than for free lipase (35 °C) as well as the optimum pH (8.0 and 7.5, respectively). The study of the reaction kinetics showed that a higher maximum reaction rate (Vmax) (221.1 U/mg) for the free lipase in comparison to the immobilized form (175.3 U/mg). A protective effect of the microcapsule was detected in the storage of the enzyme at room temperature, as after 75 days 35% of activity was maintained for the microcapsules, while no activity remained after 15 days with the free enzyme. Lower values for inactivation constant (kd) and increase in half-life for immobilized lipase showed that lipase microencapsulation favored the thermostability of this enzyme.

The irregular disposal of urban waste oils (UWO) from homes and commercial establishments directly in sewers has become a major environmental concern nowadays. In the last years, intensive research has been carried out to seek alternatives to reduce disposal and to properly use UWO. In a search using the Scopus database with “waste cooking oil” OR “waste oil” OR “waste frying oil” OR “residual cooking oil” OR “residual frying oil” OR “residual oil” as queries (title, abstract, and key-words) from 2020 to Jully 2021, the production of biodiesel using UWO was the most frequent topic of manuscripts related to the use of this waste (43.8%). Beside this, a wide range of bioproducts with industrial interest can also be obtained using super-processed oils, such as emulsifiers, esters, bioplastics, biolubricants, among others. This review focus on the production of lipase and biosurfactants, which are bioproducts with great industrial application potential. According to the Scopus search, performed including “enzyme production” as query, lipase is the most prominent enzyme produced from UWO, and the yeast species Y. lipolytica is mainly used in those processes. One to five percent of UWO titer is used in lipase production medium, and many investigations are focused on developing co-production processes to obtain other bioproducts simultaneously. Most of the biosurfactants produced from UWO were identified as glycolipids, mainly rhamnolipids, and they are generally applied to remove oil from soil and water contamination sites.

Microencapsulation of lipase from Yarrowia lipolytica IMUFRJ 50682 was performed by ionotropic gelation with sodium alginate. Sodium alginate, calcium chloride and chitosan concentrations as well as complexation time were evaluated through experimental designs to increase immobilization yield (IY) and immobilized lipase activity (ImLipA) using p-nitrophenyl laurate as substrate. To adjust both parameters (IY and ImLipA), the desirability function showed that microcapsule formation with 3.1%(w/v) sodium alginate, 0.19%(w/v) chitosan, 0.14 M calcium chloride, and 1 min complexation time are ideal for maximal immobilization yield and immobilized lipase activity. A nearly twofold enhancement in Immobilization yield and an increase up to 280 U/g of the lipase activity of the microcapsules were achieved using the experimental design optimization tool. Chitosan was vital for the high activity of this new biocatalyst, which could be reused a second time with about 50% of initial activity and for four more times with about 20% of activity.

Microencapsulation of lipase from Yarrowia lipolytica IMUFRJ 50682 was performed by ionotropic gelation with sodium alginate. Sodium alginate, calcium chloride and chitosan concentrations as well as complexation time were evaluated through experimental designs to increase immobilization yield (IY) and immobilized lipase activity (ImLipA) using p-nitrophenyl laurate as substrate. To adjust both parameters (IY and ImLipA), the desirability function showed that microcapsule formation with 3.1%(w/v) sodium alginate, 0.19%(w/v) chitosan, 0.14 M calcium chloride, and 1 min complexation time are ideal for maximal immobilization yield and immobilized lipase activity. A nearly twofold enhancement in Immobilization yield and an increase up to 280 U/g of the lipase activity of the microcapsules were achieved using the experimental design optimization tool. Chitosan was vital for the high activity of this new biocatalyst, which could be reused a second time with about 50% of initial activity and for four more times with about 20% of activity.