Valorization of Wastes for Biodiesel Production: The Brazilian Case

This chapter intends to bring an overview about the Brazilian researches and their contributions to the production of biodiesel from wastes. Currently, the main obstacles to spread the use of biodiesel are its high cost of production and the competition between biodiesel and food industries. So, the use of wastes plays an important role in reducing the biodiesel costs and reusing the materials that have no other applications, as deodorization residues, neutralization soap sticks, and animal fats, among others. Then, we present a review about Brazilian studies involving waste oils and fatty–acid-rich raw materials that helped the advancement in this field of knowledge during the last few years

Zeolites: A Theoretical and Practical Approach with Uses in (Bio)Chemical Processes

This review provides a state-of-the-art summary of distributed zeolite technology, as well as identifying strategies to further promote the absorption of these materials in various areas of study. Zeolites are materials that can be synthesized or found in natural rock deposits a with a basic composition consisting in Al, Si, and O. Zeolite’s consideration as a future material is due to many facile synthesis methods to obtain different structures with variations in pore size, surface area, pore volume and physical properties. These methods are developed using the control of relevant synthesis parameters that influences structure formation, such as crystallization temperature, time of aging and/or crystallization, stoichiometric relationships between components of synthesis gel, pH of the medium, and in some cases the type of structure-directing agent. Each method will lead to geometric changes in the framework formation, making possible the formation of typical chemical bonds that are the fingerprint of any zeolitic structure (O-Si-O and Al-O-Si), forming typical acid sites that give specificity in zeolite and allows it to act as a nanoreactor. The specificity is a characteristic that in some cases depends on selectivity, a fundamental property derived of the porosity, mostly in processes that occur inside the zeolite. In processes outside the structure, the surface area is the main factor influencing this property. Moreover, there are many natural sources with adequate chemical composition to be used as precursors. Some of these sources are waste, minimizing the deposition of potential hazardous materials that can be recalcitrant pollutants depending on the environment. Besides its uses as a catalyst, zeolite serves as a support for many bioprocesses; therefore, this review aims to explain relevant aspects in chemical nature, physical properties, main methods of synthesis, main precursors used for synthesis, and relevant applications of zeolites in chemical catalysis and biological processes

Desenvolvimento de formulações fermentadas probióticas mistas enriquecidas com óleos de frutos amazônicos / Development of mixed probiotic fermented formulations enriched with amazonic fruit oils

O desenvolvimento de formulações conjugando extratos e frutos, seus produtos e subprodutos vislumbra associar aspectos nutricionais, e promotores de saúde com base na sua funcionalidade em constituintes químicos. Diante do exposto, esta pesquisa experimental tem como objetivo formular bebidas fermentadas probiótica mista com extrato hidrossolúvel de amêndoas, enriquecidos com óleos vegetais de frutos amazônicos como o açaí (Euterpe oleracea) e pequi (Caryocar brasiliense Camb), e adição de farinha de linhaça Linun usitatissimun L.). As bases metodológicas aplicadas seguiram os padrões internacionais de análises de alimentos e outros procedimentos metodológicos publicados e aceitos internacionalmente. Os resultados mostram que as formulações apresentaram boas características nutricionais, com baixo valor de lipídios com médias entre 5,96-4,85 % e teores de proteína entre 2,90-2,67%. Os valores energéticos totais para o consumo de 100ml da bebida apresentou teor médio de 67,88 kcal 100g-1 para a formulação enriquecida com açaí, enquanto da bebida com adição de óleo de pequi correspondeu 57,13 kcal.  Em relação aos seus potenciais funcionais antioxidantes. O teor de compostos fenólicos totais encontrados na bebida sem enriquecimento o teor de 29,7 mg EAG/g, na enriquecida com o óleo de açaí 42,77 mg EAG/g e para o óleo de pequi de 32,3 mg EAG/g. Quanto a atividade antioxidante as formulações das bebidas mostraram o valor de DPPH de 42,4% para a bebida de base, com o óleo de açaí de 43,6% e com o óleo de pequi 50,9%. Os dados mostram a qualidade nutricional expressas nos principais teores de macronutrientes e na riqueza do potencial antioxidante dessas formulações com alta funcionalidade a prevenção de agravos patológicos, como alimento de base funcional

Ethanolysis optimisation of Jupati (Raphia taedigera Mart.) oil to biodiesel using response surface methodology

In this work, the transesterification of jupati (Raphia taedigera Mart.) oil using ethanol and acid catalyst was examined. The production of biodiesel was performed using a central composite design (CCD). A range of values for catalyst concentration (1 to 4.21%), temperature (70-80 °C), and the molar ratio of alcohol to oil (6:1-13.83:1) were tested, and ester content, viscosity, and yield were the response variables. The synthesis process was optimised using response surface methodology (RSM), resulting in the following optimal conditions for the production of jupati ethyl esters: a catalyst concentration of 3.85% at 80 °C and an alcohol-to-oil molar ratio of 10:1

High-Quality Biodiesel Production from Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa) Oil Soapstock

The buriti palm (Mauritia flexuosa) is a palm tree widely distributed throughout tropical South America. The oil extracted from the fruits of this palm tree is rich in natural antioxidants. The by-products obtained from the buriti palm have social and economic importance as well, hence the interest in adding value to the residue left from refining this oil to obtain biofuel. The process of methyl esters production from the buriti oil soapstock was optimized considering acidulation and esterification. The effect of the molar ratio of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) to soapstock in the range from 0.6 to 1.0 and the reaction time (30–90 min) were analyzed. The best conditions for acidulation were molar ratio 0.8 and reaction time of 60 min. Next, the esterification of the fatty acids obtained was performed using methanol and H2SO4 as catalyst. The effects of the molar ratio (9:1–27:1), percentage of catalyst (2–6%) and reaction time (1–14 h) were investigated. The best reaction conditions were: 18:1 molar ratio, 4% catalyst and 14 h reaction time, which resulted in a yield of 92% and a conversion of 99.9%. All the key biodiesel physicochemical characterizations were within the parameters established by the Brazilian standard. The biodiesel obtained presented high ester content (96.6%) and oxidative stability (16.1 h)

Quality parameters and thermogravimetric and oxidative profile of Muruci oil ( Byrsonima crassifolia L.) obtained by supercritical CO2

Abstract These researches aimed determine the quality parameters, the nutritional profile, and the thermogravimetric and oxidative behavior of Muruci (Byrsonima crassifolia L .) oil obtained by supercritical CO2 extraction. The results showed an average oil yield of 5.50%. The acidity and peroxide values show good quality and conservation standards, according to the Brazilian legislation. The fatty acid profile indicates a predominance of unsaturated fatty acids with levels above 60%, highlighting the presence of fatty acids omega-6 and omega-9. The thermogravimetric curves showed oil stability at temperatures around 200 °C and exothermic peaks characteristic of mass loss close to 250 °C. The data of oxidative induction time determined by the Rancimat method showed thermal oxidative stability of 20.85 h for the oil obtained. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic profile evidenced chemical compounds with predominantly unsaturated structures, confirming its fatty acid profile. Based on the results of the oil analysis, it is possible to recognize the potential of this species in terms of nutritional, functional, and thermo-oxidative stability aspects

Quality control of Amazonian cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) by-products and microencapsulated extract by thermal analysis

Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) and its by-products are widely used by the pharmaceutical, cosmetics and food industries because they contain secondary metabolites with high levels of antioxidants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the thermal profile of cocoa by-products extract and its microparticles, obtained by spray drying to preserve its biological activity. The thermal analyses showed that the events of greater mass loss occurred in the temperature range of 407\u2013455 \ub0C (oil), 370\u2013429 \ub0C (cocoa waste), 175\u2013302 \ub0C (cocoa extract), 299\u2013314 \ub0C (microparticles) and 239\u2013329 \ub0C (microencapsulated extract). Through differential scanning calorimetry analysis, it was possible to detect a positive effect on microencapsulation of the extract, an increase in the stability of the active principles and similar bands both for the spectra of the extract and microparticles. The extract obtained, despite being derived from the solid residue (waste), showed high values of polyphenols content and antioxidant activity. These results suggest that the spray drying technology employed for encapsulation of the active principles was also effective for their preservation