FABRICATION AND EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF A MICRO-REACTOR FOR BIODIESEL PRODUCTION
José Martim Costa Junior1; Carolina Palma Naveira Cotta1; Jeziel da Silva Nunes2
1 Mechanical Engineering Prog. - COPPE/UFRJ; 2 CEFET-RJ
doi:10.20906/CPS/COB-2015-2694
Resumo
In this study, a novel approach is presented for the micro fabrication and sealing of a microfluidic device to perform the role of a micro-reactor for biodiesel synthesis, made on a brass metal. The microfluidic device contains a Y-junction architecture, with a 400 µm squared cross section micro channel engraved using a micro-milling technique and sealed by welding, with tin as an adhesion material. This method provides a simple way to fabricate microfluidic devices for use in industrial applications, such as in the production of biodiesel, which require high temperatures, high pressures, and relatively high chemical resistance. To illustrate the applicability of the device, a biodiesel synthesis through a transeterification reaction of soybean oil, ethanol and NaOH was evaluated for different resident time and the conversion of triglycerides in ethyl esters of fatty acids was analyzed at room temperature. The analysis of biodiesel produced in these micro-reactors was performed by liquid chromatography high performance (HPLC).
Palavras-chave: biodiesel; microreactor; experimental analyses