Affiliation:
1. Department of Processes and Products Development School of Chemical Engineering University of Campinas 500 Albert Einstein Av Campinas 13085 045 São Paulo Brazil
2. Cardiff Catalysis Institute School of Chemistry Cardiff University Park Place Cardiff CF10 3AT Wales United Kingdom
Abstract
AbstractThis manuscript reports for the first time a heterogenous catalytic route to monoglycerides (MAGs) from microalgal oil. Microalgae is an important biomass source with high‐value applications, such as food ingredients with essential fatty acids. To date, the glycerolysis of microalgae has only been investigated for a microbial oil (Schizochytrium sp.) using enzyme catalysis. However, the use of enzymes on a large scale is currently economically impeditive and requires highly selective lipases. In this study, metal oxides were screened and the reaction conditions optimized for rapeseed oil. The optimized conditions were then used to investigate the production of MAGs from Scenedesmus sp. microalga. The most promising catalyst was found to be MgO/KOH, which gave a 44 % yield. Comparing two reaction systems (low temperature 70 °C/atmospheric pressure and high temperature at 200 °C/20 bar), it was found that the latter has a superior performance. Due to the stability of the product in air, the presence of an inert atmosphere is essential to achieve high yields.
Funder
Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo