BIODIESEL PRODUCTION FROM CORN OIL: COMPARISON BETWEEN HOMOGENEOUS BASIC CATALYSIS AND HOMOGENEOUS ACID CATALYSIS

Abstract

Biodiesel is a renewable and biodegradable fuel that stands out for reducing pollutant emissions and contributing to sustainable development. This study aimed to produce biodiesel from corn oil and compare two catalytic routes: basic homogeneous catalysis and acidic homogeneous catalysis. The results showed an average yield of 81,05% and an average acid value of 1.1020 mg KOH/g of biodiesel for the acidic homogeneous catalysis, and an average yield of 73.71% and an average acid value of 1.4548 mg KOH/g of biodiesel for the basic homogeneous catalysis. Although acidic catalysis showed higher yield and lower acidity, basic catalysis demonstrated greater efficiency in terms of reaction time