Environmentally Friendly New Catalyst Using Waste Alkaline Solution From Aluminum Production for the Synthesis of Biodiesel in Aqueous Medium

Authors

Sandro L. Barbosa, Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys - UFVJM
David Lee Nelson, Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys - UFVJM
Lucas Paconio, Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys - UFVJM
Moises Pedro, Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys - UFVJM
Wallans Torres Pio dos Santos, Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys - UFVJM
Alexandre P. Wentx, Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys - UFVJM
Fernando L. P. Pessoa, University Center SENAI-CIMATEC
Foster A. Agblevor, Utah State UniversityFollow
Daniel A. Bortoleto, Universidade Federal do Pará
Maria B. de Freitas-Marques, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Lucas D. Zanatta, Universidade de São Paulo

Document Type

Article

Author ORCID Identifier

Sandro L. Barbosa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0294-5345

David Lee Nelson https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7435-3675

Alexandre P. Wentz https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5060-6479

Daniel A. Bortoleto https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3884-7146

Journal/Book Title

Bioengineering

Publication Date

6-7-2023

Publisher

MDPI AG

Volume

10

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Abstract

Red mud (RM) is composed of a waste alkaline solution (pH = 13.3) obtained from the production of alumina. It contains high concentrations of hematite (Fe₂O₃), goethite (FeOOH), gibbsite [Al(OH)₃], a boehmite (AlOOH), anatase (Tetragonal–TiO₂), rutile (Ditetragonal dipyramidal–TiO₂), hydrogarnets [Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)_3-x(OH)_4x], quartz (SiO₂), and perovskite (CaTiO₃). It was shown to be an excellent catalytic mixture for biodiesel production. To demonstrate the value of RM, an environmentally friendly process of transesterification in aqueous medium using waste cooking oil (WCO), MeOH, and waste alkaline solution (WAS) obtained from aluminum production was proposed. Triglycerides of WCO reacted with MeOH at 60^◦C to yield mixtures of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) in the presence of 0.019% (w/w) WAS/WCO using the WAS (0.204 mol L⁻¹, predetermined by potentiometric titration) from aluminum production by the Bayer process. The use of the new catalyst (WAS) resulted in a high yield of the products (greater than 99% yield).

First Page

1

Last Page

12

Recommended Citation

Barbosa, S.L.; Nelson, D.L.; Paconio, L.; Pedro, M.; dos Santos, W.T.P.; Wentz, A.P.; Pessoa, F.L.P.; Agblevor, F.A.; Bortoleto, D.A.; de Freitas-Marques, M.B.; et al. Environmentally Friendly New Catalyst Using Waste Alkaline Solution from Aluminum Production for the Synthesis of Biodiesel in Aqueous Medium. Bioengineering 2023, 10, 692. https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10060692