This work investigates the production of fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) from soybean oil in compressed propane using Novozym 435 as catalyst. The experiments were performed in a batch reactor following the kinetics of the enzyme-catalyzed reaction in the temperature range of 35-65 degrees C, from 50 to 150 bar, enzyme concentration of 1-20 wt%, oil to ethanol molar ratio of 1:3-1:15 and solvent to substrates mass ratio of 1:1-4:1. Results showed that lipase-catalyzed alcoholysis in propane might be a potential alternative to conventional techniques for biodiesel production as complete conversions were obtained at mild temperature and pressure conditions, 65 degrees C and 50 bar, for an enzyme concentration of 5 wt% in 6 h of reaction. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.