Daniel Bastos de Rezende
UFMG, Brazil
Title: Green Technology for biodiesel: production of methyl esters from Macauba oil over egg shell and marble heterogeneous catalyst
Biography
Biography: Daniel Bastos de Rezende
Abstract
This research explores the exceptional use of waste minerals like eggshell and marble as precursors of sustainable catalysts to be used for biodiesel production. Macaúba was used as promising and innovative triglyceride source. This palm tree is native in South America and presents high oil productivity (6000 kg/ha/year). The waste minerals were previously calcinated and characterized by x ray diffraction, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Each catalyst was heated in methanol to improve its efficiency, after, the macaúba oil was added. The reactions were performed at reflux temperature and the reactants were vigorously stirred (700 rpm). During reaction, samples were periodically taken every half hour for a kinetics study. After catalysts separation, all reaction products were cleaned with an ion-exchange resin and anhydrous sodium sulphate. The samples were analysed by HPLC, NMR and GC. The raw materials and biodiesel were characterized by density, viscosity, water content and acid value. In addition, the oxidative stability, the maximum plugging point and the ester content of the biodiesels were analysed. The conversions were high (70-94%) for 3 h of reactions. Both residual solids seem to be robust and effective catalysts for macauba oil transesterification, although Ca leaching was observed. After clean final step, the macauba biodiesel are in compliance with most of the quality standards.