Síntese contínua e não catalítica de ésteres etílicos de ácidos graxos a partir do óleo da polpa de macaúba (Acrocomia aculeata)

Abstract

This paper proposes biodiesel production by non-catalytic process using ethanol in pressurized conditions in continuous mode of Macaúba oil (Acrocomia aculeata), evaluating the effect of process variables (temperature, pressure, mass ratio oil: alcohol and addition of cosolvent) on the conversion of the reaction in terms of fatty acid esters to determine the best experimental conditions. As well as envisioned, a study of changes in driving the reaction in pressurized conditions, seeking to decrease the reaction conditions of temperature and pressure. The results show this study that regarding obtaining better rates of mass transfer, the use of fillings of glass spheres presented performed better. Through planning Plackett Burman 12, it was found that the variables that showed greater significance in the process were the weight ratio (alcohol: oil) and the addition of cosolvent, besides that, it was observed that the results for the decomposition were satisfactory (<5.0%). With this we was performed a kinetic study, based on these two variables, where it was found that the use of a larger amount of alcohol in the process did not prove to be beneficial, already the addition of cosolvent played a positive role enabling reduction in the time and reaction temperature, since the condition of 275 º C was achieved a yield of 89.62%.