Avaliação físico - química do óleo da semente da Morinda citrifolia Linn. Para obtenção de biodiesel etílico

Abstract

The search for new energy sources has intensified in recent years due to the possible insufficiency, in the medium time, of carbon-based fuels. In addition, the environmental impacts generated by this energy source have intensified the already perceptible climate changes across the planet. Therefore, the time available for the development of a new energy source has been running out quickly. In this theme, biofuels from different raw materials are viable, low-cost and easy-to-produce options. Biodiesel, a mixture of vegetable oil and traditional diesel, is a biofuel already used in several countries such as Brazil and the United States. Being able to be generated from various raw materials such as sunflower and soybean, Noni (Morinda citrifolia Linn.) was used in this research as a possible source for generating this fuel. Determining and analyzing the physical-chemical properties of the bio - oil extracted from the Noni seed, obtaining from there the bio - oil and also, determining the physical - chemical characteristics of the biodiesel generated from this substance were the objectives of this work. The methodology involved the transesterification process to generate biodiesel. The parameters analyzed were density, humidity, pH, corrosion content, acidity, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), viscosity and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). As a result, an oil with two phases was obtained, called phase 1 and phase 2, both submitted to the production of biodiesel. Of the analyzed parameters, the pH, the corrosion content, the viscosity did not present minimum values necessary in the two phases of the oil for the productivity of the biodiesel. Added to the low yield, it is concluded that biodiesel from Noni oil is not amenable to production and commercialization. As future projects, research on its use in cosmetics is suggested, an area that shows promise in the use of this raw material.