Determination of liquid-liquid equilibrium data and reaction kinetics of vegetable oils in ethyl biodiesel production

• Grant number: 12/13486-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2012
• End date: October 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Antonio José de Almeida Meirelles
• Grantee: Paulo Mielke Neto
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia de Alimentos (FEA). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 08/56258-8 - Phase equilibrium and purification processes in the production of biofuels and biocompounds, AP.BIOEN.TEM

Abstract

This research project aims to investigate the general equilibrium thermodynamic and reaction kinetic in biodiesel production. The process will be by basic allogenic transesterification of glycerides with ethanol and sodium methoxide as a catalyst. The variables in the study will be the rate of conversion of glycerides and yield of product (biodiesel). Will be investigated the influence of major process variables such as the reaction temperature, molar ratio of alcohol: oil, amount of catalyst, and reaction time. Will be applied a model of reversible reaction kinetics for the determination of kinetic parameters of different types of glycerides with pure ethanol. With the experimental equilibrium, data will be possible to analyze the accuracy of the estimates and determine the thermodynamic properties of the reactions studied.(AU)