Production and energetic analysis of microalgae biodiesel through saponification process
Dhyogo Miléo Taher1; Wellington Balmant1; Anne Caroline Defranceschi Oliveira1; Pedro Henrique Rocha Peixoto1; Luiza Schroeder1; André Bellin Mariano1; José Viriato Coelho Vargas1
1 UFPR
doi:10.20906/CPS/COB-2015-1031
Resumo
The economic and population growth and the consequent increase in energy demand today make the search for alternative energy sources becomes critical task for the scientific community. The microalgae are shown as a possible new source for the production of biofuels such as bioethanol and biodiesel. One of the major difficulties of microalgae biodiesel production is the oil extraction from the biomass. The cases reported in the literature are only analytical and in laboratory scale. This study aimed to evaluate the saponification process on a pilot scale for the extraction of oil and the consequent production of biodiesel. The energy consumption analysis of the process was also promoted. The best results demonstrated the extraction of 220 g of oil from 2 kg of microalgae dry biomass and the produce of 100 g of esters with 84% of purity. Moreover, during the oil production process, there was the formation of other potentially combustible material, formed of 50% alcohol and 20% oil. This substance was isolated and analyzed in chromatograph.
Palavras-chave: microalgae; biodiesel; saponification; energetic analysis