Desenvolvimento de micro e nano compósitos poliméricos com atividade catalítica para produção de biodiesel

Abstract

The world energy crisis affects several sectors of the global economy, owing to the dependence and probable scarcity of non-renewable resources, it is necessary to investigate alternative and renewable energy sources. Biodiesel proves to be a promising biofuel, however, the high cost of production and current methods adopted do not yet enable the complete replacement of common diesel. In this context, research on alternative routes is essential for a future with greater use of renewable energy. In this work, through experiment planning, are showed candidates for catalysts produced from agro-industrial residues of soybean hulls (CS) and lignin (Ln) and these associated with high-performance polymer like polyetherimide (PEI). Pyrolysis was performed on the CS at 400 °C for 2 hours with a heating ramp of 10 °C/min. Soybean hull carbon CCS and Ln were sulfonated using concentrated sulfuric acid as sulfonating agent. The results of the conversion tests for the appreciated sulfonated components that sulfonated soy hull charcoal CCSS(5.827 meq/g) and Ln-S(8.552meq/g) obtained a percentage conversion of oleic acid to methyl oleate of 99 and 99.8 % at 65 ºC in 60 minutes, respectively. Sulfonated components were electrospun to form fiber composites through the polymeric dispersions. Among the results obtained, the electrospun composites using pure PEI were more promising, with emphasis on composite produced with PEI and CCSS (5.827 meq/g) PEICCSS(5.827 meq/g), with a CTI of 2.998 meq/g, which was able to convert about 98.2 % in 60 minutes at 65 ºC higher than the minimum value of 96.5 % of ester content by the ANP method EN14103. The fibers have an average wire thickness of 2-4 μm, the composite also showed a 17.7-fold increase in conversion efficiency compared to the amount of sulfonated carbon used in the tests. Through the production of composites, this work demonstrates the importance of investigating new ways of using agro-industrial residues and presenting them as new candidates for the viability of biofuel production.