Interesterificação do óleo de algodão com acetato de metila por ultrassom

Abstract

In this paper we present a study of the interesterification process of cottonseed oil (Gossypium hirsutum L.) with methyl acetate using potassium methylate as a catalyst in the presence of ultrasonic waves. In order to better understand the important process variables, we used an experimental design star type, a response surface methodology and statistical techniques. The experiments were carried out with molar ratio ranging from 1:8 to 1:24, percentage of catalyst from 0.1 to 1.3 % mass, amplitude of the ultrasonic nozzle 30 to 90 % (180 to 540 W) and pulse vibrating 50 to 90 %. In planning, the temperature used was 50 °C, the reaction time 30 min and the ultrasonic nozzle diameter of 28 mm. Statistica 8.0 software was used to optimize the process variables, wherein the molar ratio was optimized in 1:14.87, catalyst concentration of 1.17 %, amplitude of the ultrasonic nozzle 67.64 % and vibration pulse of 67.30 %. For the optimized by experimental design (98.12 % of triglyceride conversion), we performed a kinetic study of the reaction at temperatures of 30, 40 and 50 °C. The reaction was performed with 2nd-order kinetics in that the rate constant of the reaction increases with increasing temperature. The activation energy was quantified in 79.129 kJ/mol. Finally, we conducted a comparative study of the production of methyl esters by interesterification in the presence of ultrasonic waves, with a conventional method (mechanical stirring), with a significant increase of 13 % of triglyceride conversion with the use of ultrasonic waves compared with a conventional method.