SIMULAÇÃO DA PRODUÇÃO DO BIODIESEL POR TRANSESTERIFICAÇÃO E ESTERIFICAÇÃO HETEROGÊNEA DO ÓLEO RESIDUAL A PARTIR DA DESTILAÇÃO REATIVA

Abstract

In the context in which we live today, the need for new sources of clean energy is a reality worldwide. Petroleum is still considered the main source of energy generation, however studies show that it is a source that has great difficulty in renewing nature. As a result, efforts are being made to develop clean and renewable energy sources. Biodiesel, more and more, is taking its place in the world of biofuels, but for this it is necessary to improve production technologies to make it more accessible and profitable. Thus, this course conclusion work aims to simulate the production of biodiesel from residual oil, which would be discarded in nature, through the esterification process of free fatty acids together with transesterification, which is the reaction responsible for transformation of triglycerides into biodiesel, with the aid of a reactive distillation column, which allows the reactions and separation of products to occur within the same equipment. In this way, when carrying out the sensitivity analysis of the production process, specifications and operational conditions capable of improving biodiesel production were found. In addition, the effects of reflux ratio, thermal load and methanol flow on biodiesel production were evaluated.