Liquid-liquid equilibria for the system glycerol plus odoriferous compound plus solvent

• Grant number: 15/24941-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2016
• End date: February 28, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Roberta Ceriani
• Grantee: Arthur Eduardo Pastore de Lima
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Química (FEQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Biodiesel advent has generated an intensification of researches related to its main byproduct (or coproduct), the glycerin. After transesterification reaction, the glycerin fraction contains a variety of impurities, which is removed in a greater or lesser extent during the purification process (or refining of glycerin). The diversity of applications for the glycerin obtained from biodiesel production is directly related to its purity, in terms of glycerol, methanol, salts, matter organic non-glycerol and water content. This project aims to investigate the viability of using solvent extraction as a step in the refining of glycerin process for removing odoriferous compounds. Solubility data for the ternary system formed by diluent (glycerol) + solvent (methyl acetate or ethyl acetate) + odoriferous compound (butyric or caproic acid) will be obtained experimentally at 25 ºC. Binodal curve will be attained by the cloud point method and the tie line quantifications will be achieved by direct methods (solvent evaporation in vacuum oven and titration). Experimental data will be correlated by NRTL and UNIQUAC models. The predictive capacity of UNIFAC-LLE method will also be checked. In a greater context, this project of scientific initiation is involved in the researches developed in the Laboratory of Thermodynamic Properties (FEQ/UNICAMP) dealing with the application of liquid-liquid extraction as an alternative process in lipid technology (oils, fats and biodiesel).