Magno José Alves

Bio: Magno José Alves is an academic researcher from Federal University of Uberlandia. The author has contributed to research in topics: Biodiesel & Biodiesel production. The author has an hindex of 3, co-authored 6 publications receiving 135 citations.

Transesterification of Soybean Oil for Biodiesel Production Using Hydrotalcite as Basic Catalyst

Abstract: Biodiesel, a mixture of fatty acid (methyl) esters (FAME), is a renewable fuel produced from the homogeneous catalytic transesterification of vegetable oils and animal fats, using basic hydroxides as catalysts.Advantages such as product separation, catalyst reuse and favorable reaction conditions, inherent in the heterogeneous catalytic transesterification process, have led to the development of various solid catalysts to carry out this reaction.The hydrotalcite has been considered of great interest in the transesterification reaction due to its strong basicity, high surface area and pore volume. It consists of a natural anionic clay containing carbonate anions intercalated between lamellar double hydroxide, magnesium and aluminum. The lamellar double hydroxides, although not abundant in nature, can be synthesized in the laboratory at a relatively low cost. Thus, this study investigated the transesterification of soybean oil to produce biodiesel using methanol and Mg/Al hydrotalcite as a basic catalyst solid.In this work, hydrotalcite was synthesized using the co-precipitation method with Mg/Al molar ratio of 3.0 and calcined at 450 °C (723 K), under Ar flow, for 6 h. The obtained solid was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction and temperature-programmed desorption of CO2 (CO2-TPD). The reactions of transesterification were carried out at atmospheric pressure and at 64 °C (337 K) in a jacketed reactor coupled to a condenser, under magnetic stirring, by varying the molar ratio methanol/oil and the reaction time. The obtained ester phase was characterized by viscosity and gas chromatography.The best condition was achieved with a methanol/oil molar ratio of 20:1, 5.0 % catalyst (w/wt), for 10 h, which resulted in the highest FAME conversion of 94.8 %. The result was showed that the proposed solid catalyst is a promising for the production of biodiesel via heterogeneous catalytic transesterification under milder reaction conditions.

Improvement of glycerin removal from crude biodiesel through the application of a sulfonated polymeric adsorbent material

Abstract: The proposal of suitable processes for glycerin removal from crude biodiesel is an important task for making the overall biodiesel production process environmentally friendly and economically viable. In this article, we propose a dry purification process for biodiesel treatment with different polymeric materials [chitosan, cellulose acetate, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and sulfonated PVA]. Except for pure PVA, all of the proposed materials were able to reduce the free glycerin content of crude biodiesel from 0.03 wt % to values lower than 0.02 wt %. When the PVA was sulfonated, the glycerin removal increased from 12 to 82% compared that of pure PVA. The glycerin content in the biodiesel sample treated with sulfonated PVA was 0.0055 wt %. Mid-IR spectrometric analysis showed that the sulfonation of PVA increased the band due to HOH stretching vibrations; this enabled greater hydrogen bonding between glycerol and the SO3 groups of the sulfonated adsorbent. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 45330.

Lipase-catalyzed process for biodiesel production: Enzyme immobilization, process simulation and optimization

Abstract: Transesterification of oil feedstocks using immobilized lipase (IL) is a promising process for biodiesel production. However, the running cost of this process is still higher than that of conversional chemical-catalyzed approaches. To address this challenge, both upstream and downstream processes have to be optimized. This review provides an overview of recent progresses in improving IL-catalyzed biodiesel production, focusing on mid- and down-stream processing such as immobilization of lipase, bioreactors development, process optimization, simulation and techno-economic evaluation. The immobilization of lipase is a costly process. Most of the commercial ILs are prepared by adsorption of free lipase on polymeric materials. However, to further reduce cost, works should be focused on developing cheap carriers and strengthening the interaction between enzyme and carrier but without significant loss of lipase activity. Running cost of lipase also can be reduced by improving its lifetime during transesterification. To achieve this goal, solvents can be used to prevent lipase leaching and eliminate the inhibitive effects of alcohol (usually methanol) and glycerol. Downstream processing includes important units to purify biodiesel products. In this part, works should be focused on minimizing energy consumption and waste effluents. A global process integration and optimization with economic evaluation also should be figured out to improve the economic feasibility of Il-catalyzed production of biodiesel.

Scope of algae as third generation biofuels

Abstract: An initiative has been taken to develop different solid, liquid, and gaseous biofuels as the alternative energy resources. The current research and technology based on the third generation biofuels derived from algal biomass have been considered as the best alternative bioresource that avoids the disadvantages of first and second generation biofuels. Algal biomass has been investigated for the implementation of economic conversion processes producing different biofuels such as biodiesel, bioethanol, biogas, biohydrogen, and other valuable co-products. In the present review, the recent findings and advance developments in algal biomass for improved biofuel production have been explored. This review discusses about the importance of the algal cell contents, various strategies for product formation through various conversion technologies, and its future scope as an energy security.

Progress, prospect and challenges in glycerol purification process: a review.

Abstract: Glycerol surplus in recent decades due to global increase in biodiesel production has created a new form of challenge in terms of purification for crude glycerol. This review summarizes the progress of crude glycerol purification technologies using various techniques. Critical insights are given regarding the application of suitable techniques for crude glycerol purification which includes chemical pre-treatment, methanol removal, vacuum distillation, ion exchange, activated carbon and membrane separation technology. Extensive discussion is made in relation with stages and processes in the conventional, current and emerging glycerol purification technologies. Lastly, aspects concerning the challenges of glycerol utilization and purification are thoroughly discussed.

Biodiesel production processes and sustainable raw materials

Abstract: Energy security and environmental concerns, related to the increasing carbon emissions, have prompted in the last years the search for renewable and sustainable fuels. Biodiesel, a mixture of fatty acids alkyl esters shows properties, which make it a feasible substitute for fossil diesel. Biodiesel can be produced using different processes and different raw materials. The most common, first generation, biodiesel is produced by methanolysis of vegetable oils using basic or acid homogeneous catalysts. The use of vegetable oils for biodiesel production raises serious questions about biodiesel sustainability. Used cooking oils and animal fats can replace the vegetable oils in biodiesel production thus allowing to produce a more sustainable biofuel. Moreover, methanol can be replaced by ethanol being totally renewable since it can be produced by biomass fermentation. The substitution of homogeneous catalyzed processes, nowadays used in the biodiesel industry, by heterogeneous ones can contribute to improve the biodiesel sustainability with simultaneous cost reduction. From the existing literature on biodiesel production, it stands out that several strategies can be adopted to improve the sustainability of biodiesel. A literature review is presented to underline the strategies allowing to improve the biodiesel sustainability.

An Overview of Potential Oleaginous Microorganisms and Their Role in Biodiesel and Omega-3 Fatty Acid-Based Industries.

Abstract: Microorganisms are known to be natural oil producers in their cellular compartments. Microorganisms that accumulate more than 20% w/w of lipids on a cell dry weight basis are considered as oleaginous microorganisms. These are capable of synthesizing vast majority of fatty acids from short hydrocarbonated chain (C6) to long hydrocarbonated chain (C36), which may be saturated (SFA), monounsaturated (MUFA), or polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), depending on the presence and number of double bonds in hydrocarbonated chains. Depending on the fatty acid profile, the oils obtained from oleaginous microorganisms are utilized as feedstock for either biodiesel production or as nutraceuticals. Mainly microalgae, bacteria, and yeasts are involved in the production of biodiesel, whereas thraustochytrids, fungi, and some of the microalgae are well known to be producers of very long-chain PUFA (omega-3 fatty acids). In this review article, the type of oleaginous microorganisms and their expertise in the field of biodiesel or omega-3 fatty acids, advances in metabolic engineering tools for enhanced lipid accumulation, upstream and downstream processing of lipids, including purification of biodiesel and concentration of omega-3 fatty acids are reviewed.