The non-edible camphor tree seed oil was extracted and catalyzed by immobilized lipase for biodiesel production. The oil yield from camphor tree seeds reached 35.2% of seed weight by twice microwave-assisted extractions. Gas chromatography showed that free fatty acid content in camphor tree seed oil was 1.88%, and the main fatty acids were capric acid(53.4%) and lauric acid(38.7%). With immobilized lipase Candida sp. 99–125as catalyst, several important factors for reaction conditions were examined through orthogonal experiments.The optimum conditions were obtained: water content and enzyme loading were both 15% with a molar ratio of 1:3.5(oil/ethanol), and the process of alcoholysis was in nine steps at 40 °C for 24 h, with agitation at170 r·min-1. As a result, the medium-chain biodiesel yield was 93.5%. The immobilized lipase was stable when it was used repeatedly for 210 h.
