Use of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydroxide ([Bmim][OH]) as a catalyst in the transesterification reaction of oilseeds

• Grant number: 23/18286-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2024
• End date: August 01, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Daniela Helena Pelegrine Guimarães
• Grantee: Danielle Consorte Costa
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de Lorena (EEL). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Lorena , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The proposal of this project is to use the ionic liquid (LI) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydroxide ([Bmim][OH]) synthesized in the previous project (Fapesp 2022/11043-1) as a catalyst in the transesterification form mixtures of virgin castor oil (OMV) with residual oils and fats (ROF), where the effects of the ROF content in the original raw material (20 to 55%) will be evaluated, as well as the oil/methanol molar ratio (1 :03 and 1:47) in the percentage of conversion into biodiesel. The biodiesel obtained will be analyzed regarding physical and chemical properties, in accordance with ASTM. According to the results of the NMR analyzes obtained in the previous project (Fapesp 2022/11043-1), it was noted that the conversion was satisfactory under the following conditions: (i) 25% OGR in the composition of the raw material, in the molar ratio oil/methanol of 1/20, (ii) 50% OGR in the raw material composition, in the oil/methanol molar ratio of 1/09, (iii) 25% OGR in the raw material composition, in the molar ratio oil/methanol of 1/40. Under these conditions, most of the NMR peaks were concentrated within the ranges close to 3.7 ppm and 2.2 ppm, mainly indicating that there was an exchange of triglyceride carbons for methyl (CH3) provided by methanol, forming an ester. Therefore, in the present project, the transesterification reaction will be carried out at 50°C and [Bmim][OH] will be added to the oil + alcohol mixture in a mass proportion of 1%. The variation in the percentage of OGR in the original raw material (MP) and the oil:methanol molar ratio will be done according to a more robust experimental design in relation to transesterification conditions, through a 22 factorial design with star rotation and triplicate at the center point.