Biodiesel_oil.pdf

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ANALYZES OF THE USED FRIED OIL UNDER ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE AND ITSPOSSIBILITIES FOR PRODUCTION OF BIODIESEL

Carlo Alessandro CastellanelliCarolina Iuva de [email protected]@hotmail.comDepartment of Production Engineering, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM)Av. Roraima 1000 - 97105-900, Santa Maria - RS - Brazil

Abstract. At the moment, questions concerning the environment degradation and the sustainabledevelopment are highly argued, but Brazilian companies' efforts for the reduction and elimination ofinconsequential effects caused by its products are still presented in incipient numbers. Amongstthe products that can generate negative effects to environment and are generated daily and inlarge amount, it can be cited the used fried oil. The lack of information by the manufacturers makesthe consumers directly discard it in sinks, toilets or even in the rivers and soil, contributing with theincrease of environmental impacts. This article analyzes the presence of referring information tothe correct final destination of the oil in the packings of the main current manufacturers andconsiders a model of informative stamp aiming the correct disposal and recycling of this used oil tobe converted in biodiesel, as well as, shows the ways of production of used fried oil's biodiesel, thereductions of environmental impacts and the costs of this recycling.

Keywords: Recycling, Biodiesel, Used Fried Oil.


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1. INTRODUCTION

Currently, a great increase of strategies adoption for the environment preservation can beobserved, as a result of an evolution of the awareness by the citizens and companies in an intrinsicrelation between its acts and the pollution of the environment, either in the residences or in theindustrial processes. One of the main concerns is about the generation and disposal of solid, liquidor gaseous residues, which arriving at the atmosphere, ground or water, causing environmental


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impacts. The edible oils, in special those used in the fry process, appear in this context as adaily generated residue in homes, industries and establishments in Brazil and all the othercountries.

Due to the lack of information by the population and/or the lack of dissemination of ideassupporting the healthy environment, this residue is poured in waters, in rivers and streams orsimply in sanitary sinks and toilets, going to stop in the sewer systems causing damages in theclogging of the pipes and increasing the price of the processes of the Stations of Treatment andcausing the pollution of the aquatic environment. In this way, urges the necessity of adoption ofstrategies, supporting the information to the population, that these attitudes provoke severalenvironmental issues and the correct way of the disposal of this residue.

Although already having been treated for many in the past as an ideological question ofecological groups who didn't accept the modern society consumption, the concern about theenvironment preservation assumes a great importance today for the companies. An importantaspect observed in the contemporary environmental question is the commitment of theentrepreneurs and administrators in the search for solutions of the production, distribution andconsumption of goods and services issues. To use and to treat the urban solid and liquid residuesis a responsibility concerning all the society.

Verifying the relative information to the correct destination of the edible oil after-use, thework considers a model of stamp of warning to be incorporated to the label of the edible oilpackings, indicating the correct destination of the used oil, creating competitive advantages to theparticipant companies and environmental profits to the society, contributing for a more harmonicsocial and economic development between man and nature. This paper analyzes the presence ofreferring information to the correct final destination of the oil in the Brazilian edible oil packings, aswell as shows the ways of production of used fried oil's biodiesel, the reductions of environmentalimpacts and the costs of this recycling.

2. BIODIESEL AND THE USED FRIED OIL

Rudolph Diesel, a German engineer, introduced the diesel engine over a century ago(Nitske and Wilson, 1965). Since then a great deal of research and development has taken place,

not only in the design area but also in finding an appropriate fuel. For many years, the readyavailability of inexpensive middle-distillate petroleum fuels provided little incentive forexperimenting with alternative, renewable fuels for diesel engines. However, since the oil crisis ofthe 1970s, research interest has expanded in the area of alternative fuels. Many proposals havebeen made regarding the availability and practicality of an environmentally sound fuel that could bedomestically sourced. Methanol, ethanol, compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied petroleum gas(LPG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), vegetable oils, reformulated gasoline and reformulated dieselfuel have all been considered as alternative fuels. Of these alternative fuels, only ethanol andvegetable oils are non-fossil fuels.

Due to the increase in the price of the petroleum and the environmental concerns aboutpollution coming of exhaust gases from car , biodiesel is becoming a developing area of highconcern. There are different ways of production, with different kinds of raw materials: refine, crudeor frying oils. Also there are different types of catalyst, basic ones such as sodium or potassiumhydroxides, acids such as sulfuric acid, ion exchange resins, lipases and supercritical fluids.

It is estimated that in the coming years, the fossil oil price will increase because the oilproduction cannot meet the projected demand due to oil depletion (Association of Peak Oil andGas, 2004). This is a result of overconsumption in the developed countries and overpopulation inthe developing countries (Korbitz, 1999).A lot of efforts have been carried out to develop an alternative fuel for the current energy andtransportation vehicle system, i.e.: fuel cell, electric power, hydrogen or natural gas for internalcombustion engines, etc. One of the promising alternatives that are applied in small scaleproduction is biodiesel.

The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) defines biodiesel fuel as monoalkylesters of long chain fatty acids derived from renewable lipid feed stocks, such as vegetable oil oranimal fat. "Bio" represents its renewable and biological source in contrast to traditional petroleumbased diesel fuel; "diesel" refers to its use in diesel engines. As an alternative fuel, biodiesel canbe used in neat form or blended with petroleum based diesel.


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Several sources for producing biodiesel have been studied such as rape seed, coal seed,palm oil, sunflower oil, waste cooking oil, soybean oil, etc. Due to the high cost of the freshvegetable oil, waste cooking oil gives interesting properties because it can be converted tobiodiesel and it is available with relatively cheap price (Nisworo, 2005; Zhang et al., 2003).

The most common way to produce biodiesel is by transesterification, which refers to acatalyzed chemical reaction involving vegetable oil and an alcohol to yield fatty acid alkyl esters(biodiesel) and glycerol (by-product) as can be seen in Figure 1.

Figure 1 - Transesterification reaction of triglyceride and methanol to fatty acid methyl esters(biodiesel) and glycerol.

Source: Kasteren and Nisworo (1996).

Transesterification reactions can be alkali-catalyzed, acid-catalyzed or enzyme catalyzed(Bunyakiat et al., 2006). An excess of methanol is used to shift the reaction to the right side inorder to achieve high yield of methyl esters/biodiesel.

Most biodiesel industries use the alkali catalyzed process. One limitation to the alkalicatalyzed process is its sensitivity to both water and free fatty acids. Free fatty acids can react withthe alkali catalyst to produce soaps and water. Therefore Freedman et al. (1984) stated thatrefined vegetable oils with free fatty acids content of less than 0.5% (acid value less than 1) shouldbe used to maximize methyl esters formation.

The presence of water may cause ester saponification and can consume the catalyst andreduce the catalyst efficiency. The presence of water has a greater negative effect than that of thefree fatty acids. Ma et al. (1998) stated that the water content should be kept below 0.06%. Mostindustries use pre-treatment step to reduce the free fatty acid and water content of the feedstream. Usually free fatty acid is reduced via an esterification reaction with methanol in thepresence of sulfuric acid. The pre-treatment step not only causes the production process to be lessefficient (Kusdiana and Saka, 2004) but also increase the capital cost.

These facts hinder the efficient use of waste cooking oil, animal fats and crude oils assource for biodiesel since they generally contain water and free fatty acids. Kasteren (2006) saysthat there is an alternative for biodiesel production, namely the supercritical methanol method. Thegreat advantages of supercritical methanol are:-no catalyst required;-not sensitive to both water and free fatty acid;-free fatty acids in the oil are esterified simultaneously.

A comparison of the properties of the supercritical and conventional method can be seen inTable 1. The absence of pre-treatment step, soap removal, and catalyst removal can significantlyreduce the capital cost of a biodiesel plant, but the expected high operating cost due to hightemperature and pressure can be a drawback for supercritical method. That is why it is interestingto see whether the supercritical methanol method is economically feasible to be applied in abiodiesel plant.Table 1 - Properties of supercritical and conventional transesterification


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Source: Kasteren and Nisworo (1996).

Concerning the costs, the program of master degree in Engineering of the FederalUniversity of Rio De Janeiro - COPPE/UFRJ indicates US$0,25 as average cost of production forliter of biodiesel, made by used fried oil, the low cost is due to the fact that the used fried oilgenerally is gotten for free in restaurants, snack bars and other establishments.

3. USED FRIED OIL UNDER THE ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE

The increasing production of waste frying oils (WFOs) from household and industrialsources is a growing problem in Brazil and all around the world. This residue is regularly poureddown the drain, resulting in problems for wastewater treatment plants and energy loss, or isintegrated into the food chain through animal feeding, thus becoming a potential cause of humanhealth problems (Costa Neto et al., 2000). There are several end-uses for this waste, such as the

production of soaps or of energy by anaerobic digestion, thermal cracking (Zaher, 2003), and morerecently the production of biodiesel, a fuel that can be used as a mineral diesel substitute forengines.

Due to the high contents of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids (fats or oils) in oilseeds, oneof the main applications is to be processed to edible oils (vegetable) for human consumption (diet).

Nowadays, most of the used cooking oil is poured into the sewer system of the cities. Thispractice contributes to the pollution of rivers, lakes, seas and underground water, which is veryharmful for environment and human health (Hamasaki et al., 2001; Wilsee, 1998). But there are atleast another two reasons to avoid these oil spills.

On one hand, oils and grease may cause the clogging of the pipes because they stick tothe inner walls and reduce the effective diameter of the sewer pipes. If this layer becomes thicker,it may cause sewage spills. On the other hand, if oil reaches the wastewater treatment plants, it

disrupts normal operations and increases both maintenance costs and the rates to be paid for thepurification of the water (Payri et al., 2004).A simple alternative, is to place the used fried oils in a plastic bottle (for example, a big

soda bottle), to close and place them in the garbage. The garbage is separated, and the bottles willbe opened and leaked in an appropriated place instead of being poured in the sewers, in this way,unnecessary expenses with treatment in the sewer stations are prevented.

Only a small amount of the used cooking oil is properly collected and recycled, specially inrural areas (Groschen, 2002). A few years ago, this waste was mainly used to make animal food.However, as there is some evidence that highly oxidized fats (during frying, oils are exposed tohigh temperatures in the presence of atmospheric oxygen) may have carcinogenic properties(Azpilicueta and Remirez, 1991; Chang and Peterson, 1978), animal food from used cooking oil isbeing prohibited by governments. In this situation, biodiesel manufacturing may be an alternativeoption for reusing waste cooking oil.

Biodiesels from both used and unused vegetable oils are supposed to have very similarproperties and potential in reducing pollutant emission from the engine because both are


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composed of methyl esters of fatty acids. Further, analyses of used cooking oil showed that thedifferences between used and unused oils are not very great and in most cases a simple pre-treatment (removal by filtration of solid particles, esterification process to reduce the content of freefatty acids) is enough for subsequent transesterification (Chang and Peterson, 1978).

4. ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY AS AN ENTERPRISE STRATEGY

There is an increasing worldwide concern for environmental protection and for conservationof non-renewable natural resources. Day by day fossil fuel resources deplete due to rapidlyincreasing population and industrialization all around the world. For this reason, the possibility ofdeveloping alternative energy sources to replace traditional fossil fuels has been receiving a largeinterest in the last few decades.

After the two great wars, the environmental variable enters in scene and many companiesstart to incorporate environmental concerns as business-oriented strategies. Donaire (1995) showsthat one of the important components of this overturn in the ways of thinking and acting was thegrowth of the ecological conscience in the society, in the government and the proper companies,who had started to incorporate this orientation in its strategies. Ferraz et al. (1995), demonstratethat, due the productive and technological qualification in Brazil, the environmental issue offers thechance to be one of the renewable bases of the Brazilian companies' competitiveness.

However, the adoption of a pro-active position with regard to the environment becomesnecessary by the entrepreneurs, and this can construct, in medium and long terms, competitiveadvantages of difficult overcoming for the competitors. The industry is the greatest responsible forthe dispersion of toxic substancies in the environment and therefore it, becomes urgent andnecessary to promote changes in the form to treat the environmental problems. To attenuate andcontrol the pollutants became insufficient, being necessary to direct the efforts to reduce andmainly to prevent the harmful substance discarding in the environment. (Giannetti & Almeida,2006, p. 19).

5. BRAZILIAN LAW CONCERNING THE USED FRIED OIL

In August of 2005 was published in Official Daily of the Brazilian Federal Senate, the projectof law n 296, authorship of Senator Valmir Amaral, "concern the obligatoriness to consist in thelabel of the edible oil packings, a warning about the correct destination of the product after it use"(BRAZIL, 2005). This project decrees that the label of the edible oil packings will have to containan explainable note, in legible and visible forms, about the convenience to place the product after ituse, in closed plastic bottles, as well as to place them in the garbage, as a way to prevent thecontamination of the hydro resources.

In case that the project being accepted, the labeling made in disagreement with thestipulated one in the previous paragraph, will constitute punishable infraction with administrativesanctions, amongst foreseen in the Law n 8,078, of 11 of September of 1990 - Consumer Code ofDefense. In accordance with the Daily one of the Federal Senate, the edible oil manufacturers andimporters are considered infractors.

Currently, the project is in transaction in the Federal Senate. This project of law isconsidered as an alert to the companies preparing themselves for the future, where there is a greatprobability of the companies to assume the responsibilities for its products during all the phases ofits cycle of life, also the discarding. The principle is to integrate the environment function to thestrategical planning of the company" (Maimon, 1994, P. 122).

6. METHODOLOGY

In this paper, the necessity appears by the adoption of methodological criteria to reach thepre-established objectives, through the inquiry techniques, appealing itself, simultaneously, thedocumentary and not documentary information. The research method is the set of systematic andrational activities that, with bigger security, allows reaching the considered objectives, indicatingthe way to be followed (LAKATOS and MARCONI, 1995). The nature of the research is applied,Silva (2005) and objective to generate knowledge for practical application and directed to the


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solution of specific problems. It involves local truths and interests. In the point of view of itsobjectives (Gil apud Silva, 2005) the research is exploratory: it aims to provide great familiarity withthe problem to become explicit or to construct hypotheses. It involves bibliographical survey andmarket analysis, stimulates the understanding of the problem.

6.1 Procedures and techniques

The first step was the accomplishment of the survey and research about the subject inquestion, thus this work is characterizes as being a bibliographical research, that in accordancewith Lakatos and Marconi, (1995, P. 43), "it s not a repetition of what already was said or written ona certain subject, but propitiates the examination of a subject under a new approach or boarding,creating innovative conclusions". Fachin (2001, p. 126) affirms that "the material consisting ofprimary or secondary data is understood for bibliographical survey that can be used by theresearcher". After the first step, the existing products in the market had been analyzed to verify if ithad some company which informs the consumer of the correct destination of the edible oil after ituse. The universe of the research consists of eleven distinct edible oil manufacturers (soy, canola,sunflower and maize). The technician procedures had been: bibliographical research and action-research that, in accordance with Gil (1991), is that one conceived through a narrow associationwith an action and the researchers of the situation or the problem are involved in a cooperative orparticipative way.

7. RESULTS

Forty six (46) packings of edible oil of 11 (eleven) different manufacturers had beenanalyzed and none of them contained any information or warning about the correct disposal of theproduct (oil). It is evidenced, that amongst the diverse producing and importing companies ofedible oils in Brazil, none of them presents this important information, either due to a current lawthat not obligate this act, lack of knowledge by the companies or still, a lack of an environmentalstrategical vision. To insert the environmental interests in the capitalist productive process, that is,to internalize in the economic sphere the environmental question, means an attempt of raising the

interests of the capital, making the environmental issue, part of the decisive process and theeconomic activities, in order to present a clear alignment of the strategies of developmentsupported by the capitalist strategy of the profits preservation (Young, 2001).

7.1 Considered model

The main objective of the stamp (figure 2) is to inform the consumer that the used oil whenpoured directly in sinks and toilets cause the bad functioning and the blockage of canalizations andnets of sewer and raise the prices of the treatment of residues, and if launched in the rivers, lakesand ground, provokes innumerable environmental impacts. Following the steps shown in thestamp, it will be preventing future problems in the residences and contributing with the wholeenvironment.

This model is basically destined to prevent expenses and environmental impacts of theincorrect destination of used oils, however the hypothesis of this model can contribute with theoptimization of a permanent system collection by the cities that desire to generate jobs and profit,from this residue that have being wasted, as the manufacture of cleanness products and mainlythe generation of biofuels.


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Figure 2 - Model of used oil stamp.

8. CONCLUSIONS

In the past decade, energy consumption related to environmental pollution and supplydiversification has been the focus of environmental protection and economic development forpursuing sustainable development and creating renewable energy in the world. Because of thelimited petroleum reserves and increased environmental concerns, alternate fuels from agriculturalresources have become increasingly important in the near future. From the viewpoints of resourcerecycling and energy utilization, biodiesel fuel from used fried oil for diesel engines can be

considered as one of green energies.However, the fact that biodiesel is still expensive that fossil fuel has been a major barrierthat prevents its widespread use. To greatly promote the use of biodiesel fuel as an alternative topetroleum-based fuels in Brazil, the following measures are recommended and enhanced:-Grant food enterprises to build an used fried oil-to-biodiesel demonstration plant in Brazilfor the purpose of reducing transportation and production costs.-Demonstrate commercial feasibility on utilizing used fried oil as biodiesel.-Regulate the return of waste edible oil to be regenerated due to the dietary health, and illegaldumping into sewer system and trash because it has been listed as one of recyclable items.

The production of biodiesel from used frying oils is feasible by basic catalyzedtransesterification and the biodiesel produced has the quality required to be a diesel substitute.

A total lack of information is perceived too, by the companies, concerning the correct

destination of the used edible oil, aiming at: (i) to reduce the environmental impacts; (II) to improvethe environmental quality of the products; (III) to establish a more qualified relation with thecommunity where the company is inserted and with the agencies of environmental control; and,(IV) to explore the ecological marketing in result of the adoption of these attitudes.

In accordance with the opinion of Maimon (1994), most of the companies are characterizedfor a reactive position, adopting only the measures demanded by the environmental legislation. Atthe moment no law exist in the country that demands that the edible oil manufacturer inform thecorrect destination of the product, however is necessary to incorporate this environmental vision,perceiving that this attitudes, with a minimum cost or without any cost, contribute to the wholeenvironment and propitiates a positive return to the proper company. The model has the purposeto be adopted by the edible oil manufacturers, or to be demanded to the same ones throughspecific laws edited by the competent agencies. It is important, in one way or another, that be usedto mitigate a several ways of pollution, caused by the activities of the modern society.


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