Estudo da obtenção de bioquerosene a partir da destilação molecular de biodiesel de babaçu

Abstract

The environmental concerns growth and the need for diversification of energy sources in order to reduce global dependence on fossil fuels is motivating many studies over the past decades. Considering the growth prospects of the aviation industry worldwide, it becomes extremely important to create alternative fuels capable of meeting the industry's demands and capable of adapting to the most diverse climatic conditions which undergo flights at high altitudes. In this context, jet fuel originated from sustainable raw materials, also known as biojet fuel, must meet a set of extraordinary security requirements and should preferably exhibit similar physical and chemical properties to fossil kerosene, conventional aviation fuel, avoiding the need for adjustments in aircraft engines. This work studied the obtainment of bio-kerosene from molecular distillation of babassu biodiesel. Initially, babassu biodiesel was produced using unrefined oil. After, were evaluated the chemical compositions of the products distilled at 100 °C, 120 °C, 140 °C, 160 °C, 180 °C and 200 °C and, subsequently, optimal operating temperature was chosen among the ones studied, under which was possible to obtain a higher mass yield and a high content of esters in the desired biokerosene range. All samples analyzed had the greatest part of their compositions within this range and in larger quantities than other results found in literature for babassu biodiesel.