Energies (Jan 2022)

Biodiesel and Bioplastic Production from Waste-Cooking-Oil Transesterification: An Environmentally Friendly Approach

  • Cristina Almeida da Silva,
  • Raíssa Nunes dos Santos,
  • Geiser Gabriel Oliveira,
  • Talita Pereira de Souza Ferreira,
  • Nelson Luis Gonçalves Dias de Souza,
  • Aline Souza Soares,
  • Joece Ferreira de Melo,
  • Carla Jovania Gomes Colares,
  • Ueric José Borges de Souza,
  • Renisson Neponuceno de Araújo-Filho,
  • Raimundo Wagner de Souza Aguiar,
  • Gil Rodrigues dos Santos,
  • Evgeni Evgeniev Gabev,
  • Fabrício Souza Campos

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/en15031073
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15, no. 3
p. 1073

Abstract

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Alternative sources of fuel have been a concern in the last few decades. The growth of urbanization and industrialization will lead to the exhaustion of fossil fuels, attracting studies on alternative routes. The main aim of this study was to produce biodiesel from waste cooking oil (WCO) by methyl transesterification using sodium hydroxide as a catalyst. For this, the physicochemical parameters of biodiesel were studied in triplicate (density, acidity, saponification, viscosity, corrosiveness to copper, visual appearance, and cloud point). An analysis by thin layer chromatography and infrared spectrometry was also performed. The increase in yield (83.3%) was directly proportional to the increase in the catalyst (0.22 g of NaOH). The infrared absorption spectra of WCO and biodiesel showed the presence of common and singular bands of each material. Furthermore, a simple and low-cost mechanism was proposed for purifying glycerol. The spectra of glycerol versus purified glycerin showed that the glycerin produced was pure, being used in the formulation of bioplastic. The product was checked for biodegradation and photodegradation, with incredible soil-degradation times of 180 days and photodegradation of only 60 days. In this way, biodiesel production from WCO showed environmentally friendly proposals and applicability. As the next steps, it is necessary to test the biodiesel produced in combustion engines and improve the bioplastic production, including a spectroscopic characterization and extensive biodegradation testing.

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