Is Thermogravimetry an efficient alternative to gas chromatography in degree of biodiesel conversion?

Author(s)

Gaglieri, Caroline ^[1] ; Alarcon, Rafael T. ^[1] ; de Moura, Aniele ^[2] ; Mendes, Roni A. ^[3] ; Caires, Flavio J. ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Sch Sci, Dept Chem, BR-17033260 Bauru, SP - Brazil

^[2] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Inst Chem, BR-14800060 Araraquara, SP - Brazil

^[3] UNIFAL MG, Inst Sci & Technol, BR-37715400 Pocos De Caldas, MG - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF THERMAL ANALYSIS AND CALORIMETRY; v. 135, n. 4, p. 2591-2597, FEB 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

This work aims to determine if thermogravimetry could be used to determine the degree of conversion of soybean oil to biodiesel without knowing the amount of ester in the sample, comparing the results with the values obtained by the standard method, gas chromatography. The syntheses were made using homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts, and the measures were made in triplicate on both pieces of equipment. The average values (%) obtained were 74.59 +/- 0.58, 66.5 +/- 1.62, 13.54 +/- 0.32 by thermogravimetry and 74.09 +/- 0.46, 62.08 +/- 2.19, 17.07 +/- 0.31 by gas chromatography. These data were statistically compared using F-test, and the result indicated that the thermogravimetry could be used as analytical technique to determine the degree of conversion of biodiesel, with the same reliability as gas chromatography. The thermogravimetry shows more advantages than gas chromatography, because it does not require organic solvent, following the Green Chemistry Principles, and it is already used to determine other thermal properties of biodiesel. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/14936-9 - Preparation, characterization and thermoanalytical studies of heterogeneous catalysts of double selenates of Mg/Co and Mg/Cu in biodiesel production using different oils
• Grantee: Massao Ionashiro
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/08820-8 - Synthesis and characterization of biopolymers from vegetable oils and glycerol following the principles of green chemistry
• Grantee: Gilbert Bannach
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants