Banca de DEFESA: MARIA FERNANDA VICENTE DOS SANTOS

Uma banca de DEFESA de DOUTORADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : MARIA FERNANDA VICENTE DOS SANTOS
DATE: 29/09/2025
TIME: 09:00
LOCAL: Auditório do NUPPRAR
TITLE:

Processing of açaí seeds (Euterpe oleracea) applied to biodiesel production.

KEY WORDS:

Biochar; Fatty acids; Vegetable oils; Biodiesel

PAGES: 130
BIG AREA: Ciências Exatas e da Terra
AREA: Química
SUBÁREA: Química Orgânica
SPECIALTY: Química dos Produtos Naturais
SUMMARY:

The growing demand for biofuels requires production processes that meet sustainability criteria, particularly due to the need to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In this context, biochar emerges as a versatile material obtained through the thermochemical conversion of biomass under an inert atmosphere, with significant applications as catalyst support and adsorbent. This work aims to valorize açaí seeds, an abundant and renewable lignocellulosic biomass, in the production of a heterogeneous catalyst for biodiesel synthesis. The biochar was characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF), which confirmed that material activation significantly increases the number of active sites on its surface. In esterification reactions, sulfuric acid–activated biochars achieved conversions of 95% for palm oil and 90% for cottonseed oil, under conditions of 10% catalyst loading, an alcohol-to-oil molar ratio of 18:1, at 80 °C for 2 hours. These findings highlight the potential of açaí seed–derived biochar as a sustainable and low-cost catalyst for biodiesel production.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - 2140818 - AMANDA DUARTE GONDIM
Externa à Instituição - ARUZZA MABEL DE MORAIS ARAUJO - UFRN
Externo à Instituição - FRANCISCO ALÉXIS DANTAS MAIA - IFRN
Externo à Instituição - JOAO PAULO DA COSTA EVANGELISTA - UFRN
Interno - 2087667 - TIAGO PINHEIRO BRAGA