Otimização do processo de pré-tratamento do óleo de algodão para produção de biodiesel

Abstract

The optimization of the pre-treatment (refining) of crude cottonseed oil, in order to obtain semi-refined oil, its applicability in the production of biofuels is the main objective of this work. This objective is motivated by the investigation of less processed or cheaper raw materials, for instance, semi-refined cotton oil, in order to reduce the cost of biodiesel production. The conditions of pre-treatment studied for the cotton crude oil of were chosen based on the conventional caustic soda refining process (chemical refining). The proposed process of biodiesel production was evaluated and the optimal operating conditions range was identified by application of the factorial design and response surface methodology. The studied variables were concentration and the caustic soda excess (solution NaOH), initial and final temperatures. The responses were evaluated according some of the most important quality parameters of semi-refined oil obtained (color, acidity and content of soap) and the amount of co-product of refining (soapstock) produced. The caustic soda excess and initial temperatures are the variables that most significantly influenced the responses analyzed within the experimental range studied. The efficiency of conversion to methyl esters was dependent on the quality (color, acidity and concentration of soap) in the semi-refined cotton oil used. Gossypol concentration was found to be highly correlated with color cottonseed oil,suggesting that it may influence the conversion in the alkaline transesterification reaction,consuming part of the catalyst. The best result for laboratory-scale reactions was 94% (wt/wt)of ester conversion in optimum conditions, determined experimentally: concentration and caustic soda excess 25 % (wt/wt) and 100 % (wt/wt), initial and final temperatures 40 ° C and 60 ° C, respectively. These conditions the optimized semi-refined oil obtained conversion reached 94 % (wt/wt) of esters. However, the oil obtained under the conditions optimized for present a high concentration of soap, was subjected to washing with water, which reduced its content of soap. Then with the oil washed / dry, after transesterification reaction reached 96 % (wt/wt) of ester conversion. This biodiesel was again transesterificated reaching a conversion of 98 % (wt/wt), which, therefore, is within specifications established by the ANP