Obtenção de material graxo de baixo custo a partir de processos químicos e enzimáticos

Abstract

Most of the world's energy demand comes from non-renewable fossil fuels. The concern with the scarcity of these resources and the environmental damage caused by the burning of these fuels motivate the search for alternative energy sources. In this sense, raw materials of vegetal or animal origin have driven initiatives for biodiesel production through fatty acids. Industrial soap stock, coming from oil and fat refineries after the neutralization process, is an emulsion formed by water, fatty acids, triglycerides and other components. The objective of this study was to evaluate the yield in terms of fatty material of an industrial soap stock by means of chemical and enzymatic processes. For this, the biomass was characterized. In the chemical process, two experimental designs were performed, the Plackett & Burman (PB) and the Central Composite Design (CCD). Then, three trials were performed for the enzymatic process, the first used 1% of free enzyme Lipase NZ in 24 hours of reaction, the second added 0.1 M citric acid, and the third used 2.0% of the same enzyme and 1.5 M citric acid. In the PB performed in the chemical process 64.33 % of fatty material was obtained, while in the DCC 87.75% was obtained. In the first two trials of the enzymatic process there was no emulsion breaking, while in the third one 67.55% of fatty material was obtained. From these results, it can be seen that soap stock is a good raw material for obtaining fatty material and subsequent production of biodiesel.