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Continuous catalyst-free methanolysis and ethanolysis of soybean oil under supercritical alcohol/water mixtures

2010; Elsevier BV; Volume: 35; Issue: 9 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.renene.2010.01.027

1879-0682

Ignacio Vieitez, Camila da Silva, Isabella Alckmin, Gustavo R. Borges, Fernanda C. Corazza, J. Vladimir Oliveira, Marı́a A. Grompone, Iván Jachmanián,

Enzyme Catalysis and Immobilization

This work investigates and compares the reaction performance of soybean oil transesterification under supercritical methanol and ethanol, in a continuous catalyst-free process, as a cleaner alternative to conventional chemically catalyzed process. Reactions were performed in a tubular reactor, at 20 MPa, with oil to alcohol ratio of 1:40, varying the temperature in the range from 250 °C to 350 °C, and at two levels of water concentrations, 0 and 10 wt%. Although both processes proceeded with a relatively high reaction rate, conversion achieved by methanolysis was higher than that obtained by ethanolysis. Water positively affected both process: higher ester content and triacylglycerols depletion occurred when 10 wt% water was used compared with anhydrous conditions. Temperature increase favored the conversion of soybean oil to the corresponding methyl or ethyl esters, although temperatures above 300 °C increased the fatty acid degradation degree, a phenomenon responsible for the low ester contents obtained at the highest temperatures and lowest flow rates studied.