Processing of Gong Oil (Pachymerus nucleorum) to Obtain Biodiesel by Methyl Route

Abstract

Brazil is a large world producer of vegetable oils. This condition puts it in the vanguard of the use of renewable fuels on the planet, and may constitute an excellent opportunity for scientific and technological development of the country. The most widely used method for producing biodiesel is basic homogeneoustransesterification. Its disadvantage is the use of high quality raw materials, which raises the final cost of the process by about 85%. The final cost of biodiesel production can be reduced considerably with the inclusion of raw materials of low added value containing high content of free fatty acids (FFA), the great challenge is the development of different routes and production scales capable of making the production process of this energy input viable. In addition, the valorization of different raw materials and implementation of innovative technologies to make obtaining biodiesel ecologically sustainable and more competitive in relation to fossil diesel is of fundamental importance. Among the several species with potential for biodiesel production in Brazil, the gong (Pachymerus nucleorum) stands out, which, when heated, decomposes, originating an oil equal to that extracted from the seeds of oilseed plants. This is the larval stage of a coleopteran of the family Bruchidae, a beetle, which lives inside fruits of buriti (Mauritia flexuosa), tucum (Bactris setosa), babaçu (Attalea speciosa) and carnauba (Copernicia prunifera) until the adult stage. This work aimed to extract the oil from the larvae of Pachymerus nucleorum and adapt it to obtain biodiesel. The physical–chemical characterization of this raw material in natura revealed high FFA content (1.63% and 1.74%). The gong oil was submitted to esterification by acid catalysis, aiming to adapt it to the basic homogeneous transesterification process. The results indicated a significant reduction of FFA (0.85% and 0.55%). The infrared spectra (FTIR) of the esterified oil and biodiesel indicated the presence of methyl esters and low moisture content. Gas chromatography (GC-FID) revealed that the composition of the biodiesel consists of saturated fatty acid methyl esters (FAME). The esterification reaction of gong oil when pretreated provided evidence that the feedstock may be suitable for biodiesel production. At present, there are no studies involving the extraction and suitability of gongo oil for the specific production of biodiesel. This issue needs to be addressed so that we can advance in the esterification-transesterification processes of feedstocks with high acidity index.

1. Introduction

Energy has established itself as an input of fundamental importance for economic growth and for raising the standard of living of modern society. Energy generation is overly dependent on petroleum derivatives. On the other hand, the gases emitted by gasoline, diesel and other derivatives have strongly contributed to environmental degradation, causing climate change, global warming, melting of the polar ice caps, rising sea levels, environmental disasters and destruction of the ozone layer. These events have negatively impacted the economy and public health policies. The limitation of oil reserves and the degradation of the environment are factors responsible for the incessant search for renewable energy sources to redeem and/or eliminate the impacts caused by fossil fuels to the environment [1, 2].

Biodiesel has become in the last decades, an alternative fuel capable of meeting the growing demand for energy. The increased demand for energy due to the world population growth has contributed to a possible depletion of fossil energy resources and logically raised the level of atmospheric pollutant emissions, causing environmental degradation [3]. In the current context, most of the energy produced in the world comes from fossil sources such as oil, coal and natural gas, which are directly associated with environmental issues and are responsible for the interest of biodiesel as a renewable fuel, capable of redeeming the emissions of greenhouse gases [4, 5].

Biodiesel is a clean-burning fuel, originating from natural and renewable sources such as vegetable oil, saturated edible oil generated from cooking and frying food, animal fat and a shortchain alcohol in the presence of a catalyst. This energy input has properties such as freedom from sulfur and aromatic compounds, high cetane number, average oxygen content, higher flash point, lower emission of hydrocarbon particles, carbon monoxide and dioxide, non-toxic and biodegradable character, which overlap in relation to the properties of petroleum derivatives [6, 7, 8].

The biodiesel production route most used today in Brazil and in the world is called transesterification. In this process, the triacylglycerides (TAG) present in the fatty raw materials, vegetable and animal oils and/or fats interact chemically with a monoalcohol (methanol or ethanol) in the presence of a basic Brönsted type catalyst (proton receptor chemical species) to be converted into a mixture of esters (methyl or ethyl) of fatty acids (biodiesel) and glycerin as a byproduct [9, 10]. Figure 1 below shows the overall reaction process of the traditional transesterification process in the light of chemistry.

Figure 1.

Global reaction of triacylglycerides alcoholysis.

Transesterification occurs in three consecutive and reversible steps. To achieve relevant results in the course of traditional transesterification, excess short-chain alcohol is added, since the presence of water in the reaction medium (this occurs very often) even in small amounts (the reactants are hygroscopic). The basic catalysts are very sensitive by means of free fatty acids (FFA) from the fatty feedstock or formed by hydrolysis of the esters. In this system, the FFA react with the alkaline catalyst (NaOH or KOH) contributing to the formation of fatty acid salts (soaps), which in turn, at the end of the reaction, form emulsions and make it difficult to separate the product (biodiesel) from the by-product (glycerin). The use of Brönsted basic catalysts in the production of biodiesel by homogeneous catalysis requires the use of high quality grease raw materials. The acquisition of these raw materials results in a high cost and account for more than 85% of biodiesel processing expenses, as it requires the use of anhydrous alcohol and food grade oils and fats [11, 12]. Due to the basic catalysts, proton receptors (Brönsted), present high catalytic activity and are low cost and little aggressive of the equipment of the transesterification process are the most used in the biodiesel industry. The use of high purity raw materials in biodiesel production processes is one of the main factors that make it difficult for biodiesel to be more competitive in relation to petroleum derived fuels. In view of the above, the search for alternative feedstocks capable of reducing the costs of the alkaline transesterification process has led to studies aimed at the use of materials generated from renewable resources to make the production of biodiesel ecologically sustainable and economically viable, which meets the needs of the industrial sector and puts an affordable fuel on the consumer market. Among the raw materials with potential to overcome the limitations of traditional transesterification are oils and fats from oilseed plants, animals and residual raw materials, since they can be acquired at low cost and contribute to the sustainable production of biodiesel. On the other hand, these feedstocks have high acidity index and water content, the main factors that increase the costs of the process and consequently biodiesel becomes less competitive in relation to petroleum diesel. To adapt them to basic homogeneous catalysis technology, it is necessary to previously submit them to the degumming or esterification process by acid homogeneous catalysis to reduce the intrinsic drawbacks of these feedstocks [13, 14].

Due to its territorial extension and the variety of climates and soils, Brazil performs the biodiesel processing in a decentralized way at laboratory scale level, valuing the abundant raw materials in each of its regions. Thus, new alternatives for obtaining biodiesel are constantly being tested. This means that different routes and scales of production, different raw materials and inputs should be studied, whose purpose is to evaluate the quality of biodiesel produced [3]. In this context, an attractive alternative for the production of biodiesel in the Meso Region of Alto Turi, specifically in the municipality of Zé Doca (Maranhão, Brazil), lies in the transesterification of oils extracted from numerous oleaginous plants and animal fats. This locality presents conditions to generate different biofuel production routes. Among the various species with potential for the production of biodiesel, the gong or coconut bug (Pachymerus nucleorum) stands out. When subjected to heating, it decomposes, originating an oil equal to that extracted from the seeds of oilseed plants. It is the larval stage of a coleopteran of the family Bruchidae, a beetle, which lives inside fruits of buriti (Mauritia flexuosa), tucum (Bactris setosa), babaçu (Orbignya speciosa) and carnauba (Copernicia prunifera) until the adult stage [3, 15, 16].

The adult female lays her eggs on the palm seeds at the time of infructescence, when the shell is forming and is less hard. The eggs hatch about 10 days later and the larvae penetrate the fruit. In this larval stage, lasting up to 90 days, the coleopteran (beetle) has a white color, black ocelli at one end of the body, along with the mouthpiece and is about 2 cm long as can be seen in Figure 2 [16].

Figure 2.

Visual aspect of the gong. Legend: a: tucum coconut, b: gong in tucum endocarp and c: gong. Source: [17].

It is believed that the production of biodiesel from the oil extracted from the gong is an innovative idea and with relevant potential for society. In the literature, so far, no work has been found on this energy input and its use in the production of biodiesel. The production of biodiesel in Brazil, besides being an alternative for energy self-sufficiency, can also generate employment and income opportunities and contribute to the settlement of people in the countryside.

2. Obtaining biodiesel on a laboratory scale

2.1 Sample collection

As discussed earlier, biodiesel can be obtained from low value-added fat feedstocks, i.e., with high free fatty acid (FFA) content. Such feedstocks are pretreated to suit the alkaline methanol transesterification process.

Initially, in native forest in the municipality of Zé Doca (Maranhão, Brazil), tucum (Bactris setosa) coconuts were collected, containing a small hole in its endocarp, indicative of containing the gong (Pachymerus nucleorum) inside these materials. The endocarp of the selected coconuts was broken and the gongs were removed from its interior.

2.2 Thermal extraction of coconut oil

The larvae of Pachymerus nucleorum are washed thoroughly with clean water in a 1.00 mm sieve. They are then added to an aluminum tank with a capacity of 2000 mL and heated to about 120°C, until they release all the oil contained in them. After cooling, the oil is filtered and stored in polyethylene bottles and made available for physical–chemical characterization.

The extractive performance of gong oil is evaluated as a function of the refined oil mass and the mass of oil used throughout the extraction. The yield was calculated using the following equation.

$$\mathit{\text{INCOME}}=\frac{{\mathit{\text{OIL}}}_{\mathit{\text{produced}}\left(g\right)}}{\mathit{\text{Gong}}{o}_{\mathit{\text{used}}\left(g\right)}}·100$$E1

2.3 Physical-chemical characterization of the oil extracted from the gong

The oil extracted from Pachymerus nucleorum larvae was physicochemically characterized in terms of acidity index (A.I.), free fatty acids (FFA), moisture content (%H2O), density (D) and saponification index (Is) as recommended [17, 18, 19].

The acid value is defined as the number of milligrams of potassium hydroxide (mm KOH/g of sample) sufficient to neutralize the fatty acids present in a given quantity of oil or fat. This parameter is determined by the neutralization titrimetric method. In a typical assay, approximately 2.0 g of the sample is weighed into a 250 mL conical flask and 25 mL of neutralized alcohol (96°GL ethanol + ethyl ether in a 1,2 ratio) and 3 to 5 drops of the phenolphthalein indicator are added. This mixture was titrated with 0.1 Mol. L⁻¹ until it turned from colorless to pink. The acidity index was expressed in mg KOH/g of sample and calculated using the equation below:

$$\mathit{IA}=\frac{V_{\mathit{\text{spend}}}·\left[\mathit{\text{NaOH}}\right]·f_c·56,1}{P_{\mathit{\text{sample}}}}$$E2

Where, Vgasto is the volume of NaOH spent in the titration; [NaOH] is the molar concentration of NaOH; fc is the correction factor of the NaOH solution; 56.1 milliequivalent gram of KOH and Pamsample is the weight of the sample.

The content of free fatty acids (FFA) contained in the samples is determined analogously to the acid value. The percentage of free fatty acids in terms of oleic acid (O.A.) was calculated according to the following equation.

$$\mathit{AGL}=\frac{V_{\mathit{\text{spend}}}·\left[\mathit{\text{NaOH}}\right]·f_c·28,2}{P_{\mathit{\text{sample}}}}$$E3

Where, 28.2 corresponds to the milliequivalent gram of oleic acid.

The determination of the water content consists of the difference between the mass of the sample considered wet (Aúmida) and the mass of the dry sample (Aseca) after being submitted to drying in an oven for a period of 3 hours at 110 ± 5°C. The percentage of water contained in the samples was determined by the following equation.

$$\%H_{2}O=\frac{\mathit{\text{Peso}}\left(A_{\mathit{wet}-}{A}_{\mathit{dry}}\right)}{\mathit{\text{Peso}}\left(A_{\mathit{wet}}\right)}\times 100$$E4

The saponification index (Is) is defined as the number of milligrams of potassium hydroxide required to neutralize the fatty acids, resulting from the hydrolysis of one gram of the sample. The saponification index is determined by the Koesttstafer method, and consisted of heating a mixture containing 2.0 g of the sample and 25 mL of 4% alcoholic KOH solution, with a reflux cooler, for 30 minutes at a mild temperature (approximately 50°C), followed by titration with hydrochloric acid at 0.5 Mol. L-1. Analogously, a blank sample is carried out. The saponification index was determined by the following equation.

$$I_s=\frac{\left(V_{\mathit{\text{white}}}-V_{\mathit{\text{sample}}}\right)\times f_C\times 28}{{\mathit{\text{Wheight}}}_{\mathit{\text{sample}}}}=\mathit{\text{mgKOH}}/g_{\mathit{\text{sample}}}$$E5

Where, Vsample is the volume of HCl spent in the titration of the treated sample; Vblank is the volume of HCl spent in the titration of the blank sample; fc is the correction factor and SampleWeight is the weight of the sample used during the analysis.

Density is the mass per unit volume at a specified temperature. Parameter determination was performed by the pycnometry method. In a typical analysis, a 5 mL capacity pycnometer was weighed dry (m1). Vegetable oil was then added until it reached its maximum capacity. The system was weighed (m2) again and by mass difference (m2- m1) the mass of the oil and its density (D) were determined using the following equation:

$$D=\frac{{\mathit{\text{mass}}}_{\mathit{\text{oil}}}}{\mathit{\text{Volum}}{e}_{\mathit{\text{pycnometer}}}}$$E6

2.4 Heterogeneous acid esterefication from gong oil

The gong oil samples containing high free fatty acid (FFA) content are previously treated by the homogeneous acid esterification method, in order to reduce the acidity content and make it suitable for homogeneous alkaline transesterification. In this step the homogeneous acid catalyst, sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) is used.

The homogeneous acid esterification reactions are carried out in a round bottom flask of 500 mL capacity, coupled to a reflux system kept under rigorous stirring at 70°C for 3 hours.

In a typical experiment, 0.018 mol of gong oil is added 0.142 mol of methanol and 0.4% catalyst relative to the base mass of the oil, with a molar ratio of 1:8 (one to eight) between the oil and methanol. The system is kept in rigorous stirring throughout the process. The reaction time consisted of 240 minutes and temperature around 90°C. The product is recovered using the centrifugation technique, rotating at 2500 rpm, for 15 minutes. The oily part is subjected to heating at 100°C, to eliminate water and methanol residues and destined later for physicalchemical characterization, to measure the efficiency of the esterification process and also for biodiesel production by conventional alkaline transesterification methylation route.

2.5 Basic trasnesterification of esterified gong oil

The esterified gong oil containing reduced free fatty acid content is subjected to the traditional basic transesterification process to obtain biodiesel.

The biodiesel production is carried out in a flat-bottomed flask containing three mouths and 250 mL capacity, coupled to a reflux system.

In a typical experiment, 5.0 g (0.018 mol) of the starting vegetable oil is added to 4.6 g of methanol (0.144 mol) and 0.05 g of alkaline catalyst, NaOH, (1% relative to the base mass of the oil), with a molar ratio of 1:8 (one to eight) between the oil and methanol. The system is kept under strict magnetic stirring throughout the process. The reaction time consisted of 120 minutes and temperature of 90°C. The reaction mixture is added into a settling funnel for phase separation. The lower, glycerinous phase (by-product) was discarded and the upper phase (methyl ester mixture) was washed with acidulated sulfuric acid water (H₂SO₄ at 0.01 Mol. L⁻¹) and subsequently with heated water until the final product was clear. Figure 3 shows the traditional alkaline transesterification process of obtaining biodiesel from esterified gong oil.

Figure 3.

Basic homogeneous transesterification process of gong oil [20].

2.6 Characterization of gongo biodiesel

Different electroanalytical techniques are currently used to quantify and qualify biodiesel aiming the knowledge of the physical–chemical profile of this energy input and also to adapt it to the specifications required by the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuel (ANP), the Brazilian agency responsible for the quality control of petroleum products and biofuels. In this specific case, biodiesel was characterized in terms of spectroscopy in the infrared region (IR) and gas chromatography (GC) [21].

2.6.1 Fourier transform infrared spectrocospy

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is a widely used technique in qualitative analysis, synthesis, and biochemical transformations. FTIR measures the vibrational transition when a material absorbs energy in the infrared (IR) region. Different functional groups and their bond types exhibit infrared absorption frequencies and intensities. This electroanalytical technique is a highly relevant tool for identification and structural elucidation of a chemical substance, in addition to enabling the control and monitoring of reactions [22].

The absorption spectra in the infrared region with Fourier transform (FTIR) for the esterified gong oil and biodiesel were recorded in the range of 400–4000 cm⁻¹, using a KBr tablet. The tests were performed at the Institute of Chemistry, UFRJ, in a PerkinElmer spectrophotometer, model spectrum 100 with spectral resolution of 4 cm⁻¹.

2.6.2 Gas chromatography with flame ionization detector

The chromatography technique with flame ionization detector (GC-FID) is used for the determination of the total content of fatty acid methyl or ethyl esters (FAME) from the transesterification reaction of vegetable oils and/or animal fats. The ANP specifications contained in Resolution No. 45 of August 2014 (ANP 45/2014) for analysis of the content of esters present in biodiesel were constituted based on the EN 14103 and ANBT 15342 standards. The technique of gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC-FID) for determination of the total ester content requires analytical standards of each FAME to confirm the results [22].

Compositional analysis of the constituent methyl esters of biodiesel produced from esterified gong oil was performed using a gas chromatograph 7890A CG series from Agilent Technologies coupled with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID). This equipment used a CPWAX 52CB capillary column 30 m long, internal diameter 0.25 mm, film thickness 0.25 μm, under the following conditions: injection volume = 0.5 μL, oven at 175°C, injector temperature at 250°C, detector temperature = 390°C, hydrogen pressure = 200 kPa, flow rate of 2 mL min⁻¹ and analysis time of 20 minutes. After obtaining the chromatogram the composition was calculated from the area of each of the respective fatty acid esters. The characterization of the biodiesel fat profile of gong by GC-FID was performed at the School of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.

3. Results and discussion

3.1 Thermal extraction of gong oil

The extracted gong oil presented a physical aspect, with medium viscosity, straw yellow coloration, clear and free of impurities as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4.

Physical aspect of gong oil in natura [20].

In the course of this work, three thermal extractions of the gong oil collected from the tucum coconut (Bactris setosa) were performed. A gravimetric yield in the range of 29 to 38% was obtained. The following equation shows the gravimetric yield of the second extraction. A total of 599 g of gong was used and 208.17 g of oil was obtained.

$$\mathit{\text{Incomeect}}=\frac{\mathrm{208,17}}{599}x100=34,75\%$$E7

It is believed that the production of biodiesel from the oil extracted from the gong is an innovative idea. In the literature to date no work has been found on this energy input. Comparing the gravimetric yield of some oilseed plants, such as: corn kernels with 4%, cottonseed with 15%, linseed with 34%, and soybeans with 18%. It must be agreed that the yield of thermal extraction of gong oil is of excellent quality.

3.2 Physicochemical profile of gong oil

Table 1 shows the physicochemical profile revealed for the oil extracted from the gongo in its raw or in natura form. The gongo oil was divided into two samples in order to perform its physicochemical characterization. In turn, each sample was divided into three aliquots, the analyses were performed in triplicates totaling 30 assays.

Samples	Quality Control Parameters
	H2O(%)	IA(mg KOH/g)	AGL (%A.O)	Is(mg KOH/g)	D (Kg/m^3)
AM1	0,17; (± 0,05)	3,26; (± 0,41)	1,63; (± 0,20)	103; (± 2,16)	915; (± 0,00)
AM2	0,19; (± 0,00)	3,41; (± 0,00)	1,74; (± 0,00)	204; (± 0,00)	887; (± 0,00)

Table 1.

Physical–chemical characterization of gong oil in natura[20].

Acid value and moisture content are the main parameters affecting the sustainable production of biodiesel by the homogeneous alkaline transesterification route. A free fatty acid (FFA) content higher than 0.5% and a moisture content higher than 0.25% limit biodiesel production by basic homogeneous catalysis.

The acidity index is a quality parameter that indicates the amount of free fatty acids originating from the hydrolysis of glycerides. A high FFA content is indicative that the oil is undergoing breakdown in the glycerol chains, releasing its main constituents. The acidity of oils tends to increase with prolonged storage due to the oxidation of free fatty acids, which can compromise their aroma, color, and flavor due to their rancidity process [23]. In this sense, the high acidity values found in Table 1 may be related to the storage time of the samples (6 months) and also to the rudimentary way in which the oil was extracted.

In this work we obtained AI:3.26 mg KOH/g (± 0.41) and FFA:1.63% (±0.20) for sample 1 and AI:3.41 (± 0.00) and FFA: 1.74 (±0.00) for sample 2. Obtained the following results for tucum oil extracted by mechanical pressing IA: 37.5 mg KOH/g (±0.40) and FFA:18.86% (±0.26) [24], it is noted when comparing the results that in both cases the acidity of the oil extracted from the gong contained in the tucum coconut or properly from the tucum almonds present a high acidity index indicating that the gong oil was not appropriate for biodiesel production, requiring a treatment to adapt it to the biofuel production process.

Another parameter that influences the biodiesel production is water. This substance deactivates the catalyst forming soap, hinders the separation of product phase (biodiesel) and byproduct (glycerin), besides generating effluents that contaminate the environment. Table 1 shows that the average water content was 0.17% (± 0.05) and 0.19 (± 0.00) for samples 1 and 2, respectively. On the other hand, [25], obtained a moisture content of 0.13% (± 0.00) for tucum extracted oil. Regarding the moisture content, it can be inferred that the gong oil in natura was within the specification for biodiesel production.

The saponification index (Is) is a property that has a strong influence on the quality of an oil. The saponification reaction can indicate the degree of deterioration and stability of an oil. The gong oil revealed Is:103 mg KOH/g (± 2.16) for sample 1 and for sample 2, Is:204 (± 0.00). According to the British standard an oil that is considered first quality should have a saponification index in the range of 177 to 187 mg KOH/g of the sample. The higher the saponification index, the greater is its application for food purposes [23]. In the view of the English standard, the Is of sample 1 is not first quality. The Is of sample 2, on the other hand, [24], is ideal for human consumption and coincidentally this input is widely used for this among the countryside populations. The difference in Is between the analyzed samples may be related to regional climatic conditions, since sample 1 was collected in the dry season (summer) and sample 2 was collected in the rainy season. The rainy season contributes greatly to the rancidity of the oil in natura (crude) because with the increase in moisture content there is hydrolysis of the oil, release of fatty acids and decomposition by the action of microorganisms.

Density is a physicochemical parameter of high relevance in the quality of biodiesel. This parameter is directly related to the chemical composition of the oil used for biodiesel production. The stronger the intermolecular interactions existing in the raw materials the higher the density will be. These interactions increase with the number of carbons in the chain (single bonds) and decrease the greater the number of unsaturated bonds (double bonds) contained in the oil composition. The analysis of the chemical composition of the gong oil performed by gas chromatography (GC) revealed as the majority acid, the C12:0 (lauric acid). In Table 1 the mean density value for gongo oil was 915 Kg/m3 (± 0.00) and 887 Kg/m3 for samples 1 and 2 respectively. On the other hand, found similar density (D:889 kg/m3 ± 0.00) [24], for the oil extracted from tucum by the physical method. When an oil suffers the influence of temperature there is a reduction in its density, in biodiesel the density is linked to the cetane number, which is an indicative property in the ignition delay time of diesel cycle engines and the calorific value, directly affecting the engine performance [23]. Fuel injection systems, thus, suffer changes in fuel density and influence engine power, in view of the addition of different mass to be injected. In addition, fuel density and viscosity affect injection pressure, fuel atomization, and engine performance.

3.3 Esterefication of gongo oil with high acidity

3.3.1 Homogeneous acid esterification of gongo oil

Table 2 presents the results of the physicochemical characterization revealed for the esterified gong oil. Regarding the water content, when compared with Table 1 (characterization of the oil in natura), it is observed that there was a significant increase (from 0.17 to 0.8) in the moisture content of sample 1 and for sample 2 there was a decrease, around 26% of moisture (from 0.19 to 0.14). The increase in water content in sample 1 may have occurred due to the inefficiency of the dehumidification stage, since during dehumidification water is formed as a byproduct. On the other hand, it is observed that sample 2 met the specification for biodiesel production since it revealed 0.14%.

Samples	Quality Control Parameters
	H2O(%)	IA(mg KOH/g)	AGL (%A.O)	Is(mg KOH/g)	D (Kg/m^3)
AM1	0,8; (± 0,14)	1,5; (± 0,00)	0,85; (± 0,07)	108; (± 0,00)	908; (± 0,00)
AM2	0,14; (± 0,08)	1,09; (± 0,00)	0,55; (± 0,00)	103; (± 0,00)	905; (± 0,00)

Table 2.

Physical–chemical characterization of esterified gong oil [20].

The acidity index for both sample 1 and sample 2 showed significant reduction in the range of 46% (from 3.26 to 1.5 mg KOH/g) and 32% (from 4.41 to 1.09 mg KOH/g) respectively. However, these values are above the specification of RDC270 ANVISAMS, whose optimal limit is 0.6 mg KOH/g of the sample. Oil treatment by homogeneous acid esterification significantly improved the quality of gong oil for biodiesel production. The FFA content also significantly reduced around 52% for sample1 (from 1.63 to 0.35%) and 32% for sample 2 (1.74 to 0.55%). Although the reduction is significant the treatment of the crude oil did not reach the desired specification on the order of 0.5% in sample1, however, in the light of statistics this is a small difference that does not prevent the esterified gong oil from being used in the manufacture of biodiesel.

As for the saponification index (Is), it was observed that there was some stabilization of the said quality control parameter in the range of 103–108 mg KOH/g of the sample indicating that according to English quality standards gong oil is not considered first quality.

Regarding the density, it was observed that there was a stable density in the range of 905–908 km/m3 as the majority acid in gong oil is C12:0 containing greater intermolecular interaction due to its simple bonds in the carbon chain the density becomes high and tends to reduce when the raw material is subjected to treatment involving high temperature, as occurred with the gong oil in the course of the acid homogeneous esterification process.

The results obtained after the esterification of the gong oil as shown in Table 2 led us to infer that the esterification treatment of this oil was efficient because it significantly reduced the FFA content, but not effective enough to reach the desired level (0.5% FFA). Figure 5 illustrates the physical aspect of Pachymerus nucleorum and its oils.

Figure 5.

Physical aspect of gong and its crude and esterified oils [20].

3.3.2 Homogeneous transesterification of esterified oil

The production of biodiesel from fresh gong oil was carried out in two steps: homogeneous acid esterification and homogeneous basic transesterification, using 0.018 mol of oil and 0.142 mol of transesterification agent (methanol), 1% alkaline catalyst (0.05 g NaOH), in relation to the mass of oil molar ratio between oil and methanol in the order of 1:8 (one to eight), reaction temperature of 90°C and residence time of 120 minutes.

When the feedstock for biodiesel production contains a high content of free fatty acid, the yield through alkaline homogeneous transesterification method is low with soap formation and deactivation of the catalyst. A viable alternative to adapt this oil to the biodiesel process is its treatment through homogeneous acid esterification aiming to reduce its free fatty acids. Figure 6 shows the visual aspect from the extraction of gong oil to the biodiesel obtained on a laboratory scale from this esterified oil.

Figure 6.

Products obtained from the biodiesel processing steps. Caption: a: gongo sludge; b: gongo oil in natura; c: esterified gongo oil and d: gongo biodiesel [20].

3.4 Characterization of gongo oil and biodiesel

3.4.1 Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

The elucidation of the chemical behavior of the products of the homogeneous acid esterification and homogeneous alkaline transesterification reactions of gong oil was investigated using Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy (FTIR).

The IR spectra of the esterified gong oil (Figure 7a) and biodiesel (Figure 7b) samples are shown in Figure 5. They showed similar band positions, intensity and wave number. [22, 26, 27] Characterized vegetable oils and biodiesels produced from different vegetable oils and obtained FTIR results similar to the results revealed in this work.

Figure 7.

FTIR spectrum. (a) Gong oil; (b) Biodiesel.

In the region of the functional groups that comprises the range 4000–1650 cm⁻¹ few bands were observed. There, three sets of well-defined bands were revealed, two bands in the range 2853–2925 cm⁻¹ referring to the CH2 stretching of alkanes and one at 1744 cm⁻¹ indicative of the C=O (carbonyl) stretching that characterizes the double bond region.

The region between 1650 and 500 cm⁻¹ is called the fingerprint region. In this region more bands were found in relation to the region of the functional groups, however, the bands obtained between 1171 and 1172 cm⁻¹ allusive to the vibrations of the C-O bond, indicative of the stretching of the ester grouping, stand out. Between 722 and 723 cm⁻¹ bands referring to asymmetric CH deformation, characteristic of long hydrocarbon chains, were revealed. Another relevant factor observed in Figure 7a and b was the absence of absorption of broad bands in the region between 2500 and 3300 cm⁻¹, showing that the gongo oil and biodiesel had low moisture content. This fact was confirmed in the course of the immediate chemical analyses shown in Table 2.

3.4.2 Fat profile of biodiesel obtained by GC-FID

In Brazil, the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Fuel (ANP) is the body responsible for overseeing the quality parameters of biodiesel through Resolution No. 45, dated August 13, 2014. It regulates the characteristics of biofuels. The quality parameters are used to determine whether a given product is fit for consumption and not harmful to the population and the environment.

The ideal biodiesel for Resolution 045/2014-ANP should contain in its chemical constitution 100% of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), however, in view of the low conversion of monoacylglycerols (MAG), diacylglycerols (DAG) and triacylglycerols (TAG) and competition between the secondary reactions throughout the transesterification process it becomes difficult to separate the esters formed and the reaction impurities. Consequently, at the end of the transesterification reaction, a mixture containing biodiesel and impurities is formed. Hence the importance of characterization of biodiesel and the feedstock that gave rise to it.

Among the specific quality parameters for biodiesel determined by the ANP is the ester content. The ANP has established an ester content of at least 96.5%. A low ester content directly influences the physical–chemical properties of biodiesel. Therefore, to obtain a high quality biofuel, the transesterification reaction must be complete and the purification process after the reaction must be effective. Thus, the content of remaining contaminants (FFA, methanol traces, water, etc.) should be low, so that the ester content meets the ANP specifications.

The methyl biodiesel produced from the esterified gong oil was characterized by gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC-FID) technique for ester conversion. The chromatographic profile in terms of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) of the biodiesel is presented in Figure 8.

Figure 8.

Chromatographic profile of methyl esters contained in gong biodiesel. Source: the author himself.

The FAME centesimal composition of the biodiesel is shown in Table 3. Therein it was observed that the majority constituent was dodecanoic acid methyl ester (methyl laurate, C 12:0) with 36.85%; followed by octadecanoic acid methyl ester (methyl stearate, C18:0) with 25.47%, tetradecanoic acid methyl ester (methyl myristate, C14:0) with 23.37% and hexadocanoic acid methyl ester (methyl palmitate, C16:0) with 14.31%.

Fatty acid methyl esters (FAME)		Amount (%)
Symbol	Name
C 8:0	Methyl Caprylate	Nd
C 10:0	Methyl Caprolate	Nd
C 12:0	Methyl Laurate	36,85
C 14:0	Methyl Myristate	23,37
C 16:0	Methyl Palmitate	14,31
C 18:0	Methyl stearate	25,47
C 18:1	Methyl Oleate	Nd
C 18:2	Methyl Linoleate	Nd
	Total percentage	100

Table 3.

Composition of fatty acid methyl esters from gong biodiesel [20].

Legend: Nd: not detected.

The technique of gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC-FID) is suggested by standards EN 14103 and NBR 15764 for determining the content of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) from the transesterification reaction of vegetable oils and, to confirm the results are necessary to use analytical standards for each FAME.

According to the ANP (2014), the determination of the ester content can be done following the EN 14103 methodology. The ester content based on this standard is performed by internal standardization with methyl heptadecanoate (C17:0) and only considers the esters of chain from C14:0 to C24:1 in the calculation of the ester content. Since in the characterization of biodiesel produced from gong oil it was revealed that the majority fatty acid methyl ester was C12:0 (methyl laurate), the EN 14103 technique did not allow determining the conversion of esterified gong oil into biodiesel (methyl esters). Due to financial and technical difficulties that permeate our institution it was not possible to use other means to do the conversion. On the other hand, comparing the FTIR results for the esterified gongo oil and biodiesel with the results revealed for the fat profile of gongo biodiesel through the GC-FID technique is notable the presence of bands in the infrared absorption region allusive to the axial deformation of carbonyl (C=O) indicating the presence of fatty acid methyl esters, which were confirmed in the GC-FID tests, and the absence of bands between 2500 and 3300 cm⁻¹ indicating low percentage of water in biodiesel studied. Such occurrences allow us to predict the results of some quality control parameters of biodiesel. For example, the values shown in Table 3 (methyl ester composition) for gongo biodiesel lead us to infer as to the degree of FAME saturation that the gongo biodiesel will have:

1. Good ignition quality- the longer the saturated carbonic chain, the higher its cetane number (NC), which provides better combustion conditions,

2. High oxidative stability- the saturated chains make biodiesel more chemically stable, more resistant to oxidation if not stored or transported properly,

3. Low cloud point- saturated chains solidify easily at low temperatures,

4. Good viscosity and low lubricity power- although biodiesel naturally has good lubricity power, methyl esters of unsaturated fatty acids add greater lubricity power relative to biodiesel containing saturated FAME. Conversely, viscosity increases with increasing saturated chains.

5. Moisture content compatible with Resolution 045/2014-ANP- the absence of absorption bands in the infrared region, specifically in the range of 2500 to 3300 cm⁻¹ allows us to predict that gong biodiesel contains low moisture content.

4. Final considerations

This work allowed the obtainment of very interesting data about the use of low value-added raw materials aiming at reducing the costs of the process of sustainable biodiesel production. The raw material used was the oil extracted from the larvae of the Pachymerus nucleorum easily found in the native forests of the mesoregion of Alto Turi (Maranhão, Brazil), which has little or almost no commercial value.

The technology for extraction of oil from the larvae of Pachymerus nucleorum is simple and to be suitable for sustainable production of biodiesel should be optimized, since it has a high acidity index, which hinders its direct use in traditional transesterification. On the other hand, the oil yield in the course of thermal extraction is very inviting, and may have a cost-effective effect, which may contribute to biodiesel being more competitive with fossil diesel.

The results revealed throughout the physical–chemical characterization of the oil (in natura and esterified) and of the biodiesel originating from the larvae of Pachymerus nucleorum indicated that this oil when previously treated can be used in the transesterification process by basic homogeneous catalysis.

Finally, Brazil in view of its geographical location is a country that emerges with a high potential for the development of innovative technologies in the area of renewable energy production, because it has tropical forests with vast biodiversity consisting of tropical forests rich in mineral resources, with exuberant fauna and flora with food, timber, steel, catalytic, medicinal, and renewable energy applications.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the support given by IFMA-Campus Zé Doca, by the Laboratory of Reactivity of Hydrocabinetics, Biomass and Catalysis (Larhco) from UFRJ, by the Research Group in Sustainable Chemical Analysis (GPAQS) from IFMA-Campus Zé Doca. They also thank Luiz Eduardo Santos Vieira for the honorable contribution in the translation of this work written initially in Portuguese and later translated into English.