SYNTHESIS OF GLYCERIN BIOETHERS OF BABASSU BIODIESEL ASSISTED BY MICROWAVES USING IONIC LIQUID AS CATALYST

Abstract

Glycerin, a byproduct obtained in the biodiesel production process, can be transformed into commercial products implying the valuation of production chain. The present work approaches a study on the treatment and purification of glycerin of babassu, its conversion into bioethers in reactions assisted in microwaves. The glycerin from babassu biodiesel was treated, purified, and characterized by physical-chemical analysis- FTIR, TG/DTG, DSC, and GC-MS- confirming that impurities such as free fatty acids, soap and alcohol were eliminated. In this process, a glycerol content above 97% was obtained, being converted into bioethers in the presence of the ionic liquid catalyst pyridinium p-toluenesulfonate, and having benzyl alcohol as an etherifying agent. The etherification of glycerin from babassu biodiesel favored the production of mono and diethers of glycerin, with a conversion rate of 87.40%. The results showed that the glycerin from babassu oil biodiesel produced excellent effectiveness in the production of bioethers.