Development of a microchannel system for the continuous production of biodiesel

• Grant number: 13/25850-7
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: March 01, 2014 - February 29, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Process Industries
• Principal Investigator: Osvaldir Pereira Taranto
• Grantee: Osvaldir Pereira Taranto
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Química (FEQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Assoc. researchers: Harrson Silva Santana

Abstract

Researches in the field of energy have searched alternatives that may reduce the current dependence on oil and reduce carbon emissions in the environment. In this quest, biodiesel presents itself as an important alternative because it uses in its production vegetable oils or animal fats, being a renewable fuel and contribute less to the greenhouse effect. Micrometric systems have shown some advantages compared to conventional processes for biodiesel production. But current papers, synthesize biodiesel in micrometric systems, and its purification is made in traditional equipment. Therefore, this project will aim to develop a system of microchannels for continuous production of biodiesel from vegetable oils, using industry standard technologies that can be subsequently making this system in the industrial level. This system will consist of three parts. The first consists of a microreactor that performs the synthesis of biodiesel from vegetable oils and ethanol in the presence of a basic catalyst. The second will have a micro-heat sink that promote evaporation of excess alcohol in the product stream. The last part is composed of a micro-separator which will encourage the separation of glycerin from biodiesel stream. This study aims to contribute to the search for alternatives, economically and technologically, the use of oil. (AU)

Scientific publications

(9)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

LAMEU DA SILVA JUNIOR, JOAO; HADDAD, VICTORIA ANSELMO; TARANTO, OSVALDIR PEREIRA; SILVA SANTANA, HARRSON. Design and Analysis of New Micromixers Based on Distillation Column Trays. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY, v. 43, n. 7 MAY 2020. Web of Science Citations: 0.

SANTANA, HARRSON S.; SILVA, JR., JOAO L.; TARANTO, OSVALDIR P. Development of microreactors applied on biodiesel synthesis: From experimental investigation to numerical approaches. JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY, v. 69, p. 1-12, JAN 25 2019. Web of Science Citations: 2.

SANTANA, HARRSON S.; LOPES, MARIANA G. M.; SILVA, JR., JOAO L.; TARANTO, OSVALDIR P. Application of Microfluidics in Process Intensification. International Journal of Chemical Reactor Engineering, v. 16, n. 12 DEC 2018. Web of Science Citations: 1.

SANTANA, HARRSON S.; SILVA, JR., JOAO L.; TORTOLA, DEBORAH S.; TARANTO, OSVALDIR P. Transesterification of sunflower oil in microchannels with circular obstructions. CHINESE JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, v. 26, n. 4, p. 852-863, APR 2018. Web of Science Citations: 8.

SANTANA, HARRSON S.; SANCHEZ, GEOVANNI B.; TARANTO, OSUALDIR P. Evaporation of excess alcohol in biodiesel in a microchannel heat exchanger with Peltier module. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH & DESIGN, v. 124, p. 20-28, AUG 2017. Web of Science Citations: 3.

SANTANA, HARRSON S.; TORTOLA, DEBORAH S.; SILVA, JR., JOAO L.; TARANTO, OSVALDIR P. Biodiesel synthesis in micromixer with static elements. ENERGY CONVERSION AND MANAGEMENT, v. 141, n. SI, p. 28-39, JUN 1 2017. Web of Science Citations: 26.

SANTANA, HARRSON S.; TORTOLA, DEBORAH S.; REIS, ERIKA M.; SILVA, JR., JOAO L.; TARANTO, OSVALDIR P. Transesterification reaction of sunflower oil and ethanol for biodiesel synthesis in microchannel reactor: Experimental and simulation studies. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL, v. 302, p. 752-762, OCT 15 2016. Web of Science Citations: 23.

SANTANA, HARRSON S.; SILVA JUNIOR, JOAO L.; TARANTO, OSVALDIR P. Numerical simulations of biodiesel synthesis in microchannels with circular obstructions. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND PROCESSING, v. 98, p. 137-146, DEC 2015. Web of Science Citations: 11.

SANTANA, HARRSON S.; SILVA, JR., JOAO L.; TARANTO, OSVALDIR P. Numerical simulation of mixing and reaction of jatropha curcas oil and ethanol for synthesis of biodiesel in micromixers. Chemical Engineering Science, v. 132, p. 175-184, AUG 18 2015. Web of Science Citations: 14.

Filed patent(s) as a result of this research project