Performance das variáveis operacionais na transesterificação etílica do óleo de soja

Abstract

The following operational variables in the ethylic transesterification of soybean oil were evaluated using the fractional factorial experimental design: (1) time (2) stirring speed, (3) molar ratio ethanol: triglycerides, (4) ratio of catalyst for the mass of oil (5) type of catalyst and (6) temperature. The levels for each variable studied were: (1) time, 30 and 60 minutes, (2) speed, 100 and 200 rpm, (3) molar ratio ethanol: triglycerides, 9:1 and 12:1, (4) proportion of catalyst in relation to the mass of oil, 0.5% and 1.5% (5) type of catalyst, sodium hydroxide or potassium and (6) temperature, 35 ° C and 55 ° C. The order of magnitude of the effect observed for each of these factors in terms of income, the transesterification was: concentration of the catalyst> catalyst type> molar ratio > time> temperature> speed. In this work we studied the interactions between the variables and their implications in the transesterification process via ethylic route for soybean oil. The interactions between the variables (1) and (6), (1) and (2), (1) and (5), (2) and (4) were significant and positive for the process, ie it, followed the trends the individual effects of the main variables of the interaction will be favored income. Interactions: (2) and (6), (1) and (3), (1) and (4) proved to be negative and significant which implies that followed the trends of the individual effects of the interaction of the main variables, yields biodiesel production will decrease.