MACROALGAE Fucus vesiculosus OIL: BIODIESEL PRODUCTION USING ALKALINE TRANSESTERIFICATION

This work studied the obtaining of methyl biodiesel and ethyl biodiesel using alkaline transesterification from macroalgae Fucus vesiculosos oil (FVO). FVO has 86.59% of its composition in unsaturated fatty acids, with a greater quantity of linoleic acid and oleic acid, a chemical composition near the soybean oil, the most used raw material for the production of biodiesel. Linoleic acid (47.88%), and oleic acid (34.66%) are the fatty acids present in the greatest amount in FVO, and unsaturated fatty acids correspond to 86.59% the composition of FVO, a composition of fatty acids close to that of soybean oil, which is the oil most produced and used for the production of biodiesel. To obtain methyl biodiesel (MBFVO) and ethyl biodiesel (EBFVO) the molar ratio oil: alcohol 1: 3 and 1% alkaline catalyst, NaOH, was used. The yield of the transesterification reaction was evaluated by varying the reaction time between 30 and 60 minutes and the highest yields were obtained after 60 minutes of reaction. In order to check the quality of the obtained biodiesel, the properties acidity index, iodine value, water content, specific mass at 20 degrees C, oxidative stability, cold filter plugging point and kinematic viscosity were evaluated. The oxidative stability had an induction period below the recommended, but it can be corrected with the addition of antioxidants to the biodiesel. All other physical and chemical properties had values within the stipulated by the regulatory agencies, indicating that the macroalgae Fucus vesiculosus can be a raw material in potential for production of biodiesel.