Produção de biodiesel a partir da desodorização do óleo de palma

Abstract

Palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) is an example of a low-cost feedstock with potential for generating palm biofuel, although it is mostly used as a source of fatty acids (85% by weight) for non-food applications in industry . The catalytic application of Oxone® salt was used in the present study for the esterification reaction of PFAD for biodiesel production for the first time. The catalyst employed is an effective, inexpensive, non- toxic and water-soluble oxidizing agent. Through a Box-Behnken factorial experimental design with three levels and three variables, the rate of conversion of fatty acids into esters was optimized, it was possible to observe that, among the process variables studied [concentration of Oxone® (%), temperature ( °C) and reaction time (h)], the concentration of Oxone® was the only significant factor for the response variable of generation of ethyl esters (FAEEs). A conversion rate of >90% was achieved with 15% Oxone® at 42°C using a PFAD:ethanol molar ratio of 1:5 within 12 h of reaction time. The reaction system has a number of advantages such as mild conditions, simple operation, green nature and high conversion. Being a promising alternative to make biodiesel production as sustainable as possible