Aproveitamento das Cinzas da Casca de Arroz como Suporte Catalítico Heterogêneo na Síntese do Biodiesel por Reação de Hidroesterificação.

Abstract

The tendency of comprehensive utilization of agro-industrial residues such as rice husk, the fibers of the coconut husk, bagasse of sugar cane, among others, has been a need and at the same time, a technological and environmental challenge for modern industry and society. Therefore this research deals with the agribusiness residue behavior (rice husks), as a catalyst support in the impregnation of nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4), for the biodiesel synthesis by the method of hidroesterification. The rice husks were calcined by 3 h at 500, 700 and 1000 ° C, and then impregnated with ferrite Nickel (NiFe2O4) at 110 °C, resulting in the catalysts identified by NiFe2O4-CCA 500 °C, NiFe2O4-CCA 700 ºC and NiFe2O4-CCA 1000 ºC. The biodiesels were synthesized separately using these catalysts by the method of hidroesterification, which involves the hydrolysis steps, followed by esterification. This last step was performed on reason cotton oil / ethanol 1:6 with 1% of the catalyst obtained, at 200 ° C by 2 h. The results showed that the physicochemical properties, acidity and viscosity levels, are within the limits allowed by Brazilian Legislation, the Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels National Agency (ANP), since biodiesel synthesized by the catalyst at 500 °C presented the lowest levels of acidity and viscosity. The TG and DTG curves showed three (BCat 500 ºC) to four (BCat 700 and 1000 °C) steps of thermal decomposition, attributed to volatilization and /or decomposition of the ethyl fatty acids esters (mainly of its biggest linoleate and ethyl oleate components). These curves also showed temperature stability of each product, with the BCat 1000 °C more stable compared to the other, reaching a temperature of 226 ºC providing increased safety to the biofuel regarding to the storage process. Absorption spectra in the infrared region confirmed the presence of ethyl fatty acids esters with vibrational band with strong intensity at 1749.7 cm-1. In summary, the results proved demonstrated to be satisfactory for the purpose of the aim, offering an alternative of implementation of agribusiness residue (rice husks) to reduce an environmental problem generated by it in this sector.