Activating Lipase Enzyme in the Candlenut Seed to Produce Fatty Acid Directly from Candlenut Seed

Abstract Candlenut seed contains a minimum of 60% of oil. Candlenut oil in the seeds can be used to turn it into oleochemicals such as paint, varnish, soap, medicines, cosmetics, and fuel. This study aims to produce fatty acids directly from the Candlenut by activating the lipase enzyme found in Candlenut. This study is done by varying the immersion time, the addition of water and stirring. The method of this research is by manually breaking the Candlenut, then blended with water and soaked with a certain time variation at temperatures of 30 °C and 35 °C. During the immersion, a pH test is carried out to determine the reaction pH. The Candlenut oil produced is tested for free fatty acid content according to AOCS Official Method Ca 5a-40, and then the composition of fatty acid is determined by using gas chromatography. From this study, it can be concluded that the lipase enzyme in candlenut can be activated directly to produce fatty acids. The highest fatty acid content in this study is 9.5%, achieved at a reaction time of 24 hours by stirring and adding 40% of water.