OTIMIZAÇÃO DO PROCESSO DE PURIFICAÇÃO DE BIODIESEL POR LAVAGEM A SECO "DRY WASHING"

Abstract

The present work has the objective to purify the babassu and soy biodiesel using as adsorbent bentonite clay and talc, under monitoring by measurements of dielectric constant, index of acidity and humidity test. Initially, it was determined the quality of babassu oil and soy through physic-chemical, then was synthesized methylic and ethylic biodiesel. The talc and bentonite adsorbents were characterized for their surface area, pore diameter, MEV, XRD and FTIR. During the purification of biodiesel was used some percentages of adsorbent (0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 4% for 50 g of biodiesel) and adsorption times of 20, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min, under constant agitation and ambient temperature, the results were compared with the process of washing with acidified water, by monitoring with measurements of dielectric constant, acidity index and humidity test. The evaluation of the purification of biodiesel by dry washing, monitored by dielectric constants, got better answers than the process of washing with acidified water, with lower values of dielectric constant around 4.0% of adsorbent and 120 min of adsorption time .In relation to the index of acidity and the humidity test, samples of purified biodiesel with the adsorbent are in accordance with the specifications of the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP). Therefore, it is considered that the methodology for dry washing, as well as monitoring by dielectric constant, is feasible as a method of purification and monitoring, respectively, using as references the results of conventional purification process.