BIODIESEL PRODUCTION FROM PALM-KERNEL OIL

Abstract

It was studied the production of biodiesel using palm-kernel oil from the seed of “dende” by alkaline ethylic transesterification. Different molar ratios of oil: alcohol (1:5, 1:6, 1:7) and percentages of KOH catalyst (0.5, 0.75 and 1%) were studied. The experimental results showed that 1:7 oil:alcohol ratio resulted in higher conversion but the increase in catalyst percentages favored secondary reactions, reducing the conversion. The most efficient condition was 1: 7 oil:alcohol ratio with 0.75% KOH. Biodiesel obtained was purified and characterized, resulting in appropriate values to the ANP standard for the tests performed. It has been done a study of phase separation of the emulsion formed after transesterification. It has been found experimentally that an emulsion: water mass ratio of 7: 3 renders the separation process viable. Through various simulations, a route of unitary operations was traced to purify the products and to reuse the residual alcohol from the process.

Keywords

• Biodiesel
• Etanol
• Óleo de Palmiste
• Transesterificação