Epoxidação metílica do óleo de algodão visando a obteção de um lubrificante biodegradável.

Abstract

The intensive use of exhaustible fossil fuel reserves and the environmental problems caused by this use have triggered society's search for energy alternatives that are less harmful to the environment. An excellent alternative is constant research into the development of energy sources and the production of goods that do not depend on fossil raw materials, with the obtaining of biodegradable lubricants from renewable raw materials being an example of these studies. Due to

its great resistance to drought, the cotton plant is one of the few options for cultivation in semi- arid regions, being able to keep man in the field and generate employment and income in rural

and urban areas, with cottonseed oil being the oldest vegetable oil. produced and consumed on a large scale, in addition to its use in the biofuels industry. This work consisted of the synthesis and characterization of a biodegradable lubricant from cottonseed oil through methyl transesterification of the oil, followed by epoxidation of its esters. The materials involved in the process were characterized through their chemical and physicochemical properties. Thecottonseed oil transesterification reaction provided methyl esters that present most of their physicochemical properties in accordance with the parameters established by the National Petroleum and Biofuels Agency. Chemical analyzes of these esters showed that the process was effectively carried out, with a high yield of 96%. The biolubricant obtained by the epoxidation of cotton oil esters presented specific properties that highlight its fluid properties. The oxirane index and hydroxyl content associated with spectroscopic analyzes showed that the process occurred properly, with a yield of 98%. The production of biodegradable lubricants from cottonseed oil could significantly help reduce the environmental impact of using fossil materials to produce lubricants, as well as increase environmental awareness in the development of new technologies.