The increasing demand for renewable fuels stimulates the development of new technologies for biofuel production. The esterification of fatty acids to produce biodiesel is an interesting protocol because it uses low-grade starting materials. In this work we studied Natural Brazilian clay-based catalysts in the esterification of fatty acids. The natural clays were acid activated as received, without any previous treatment. Both natural and acid-activated clays were characterised by XRD, NH3-TPD, thermodesorption of n-butylamine, N2adsorption analysis, FT-IR, TGA and DTA. The methanolysis of fatty acids were carried out in a 1:3 carboxylic acid/alcohol molar ratio at 100� C and atmospheric pressure for 3 h. The acid activation of the clays improved the methanolysis of lauric acid from 4 to 87% in similar conditions, showing a good potential of the catalysts.  Acknowledgements: CNPq, FAPDF and FAPERJ.

Brazilian clay-based catalysts for biodiesel production

245th National Meeting (2013)

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