**5. Conclusions**

We can conclude that using acetic acid or water as a washing agent does not affect the reaction productivity, similar to the reaction temperature has no effect on the variable response within the levels used in the research. The unique variables that affect the biodiesel production are the catalyst concentration and the molar ratio alcohol/oil.

According with the above, the best conditions of operation are:


#### **6. Acknowledgment**

This research was carried out in the laboratory of the Natural Resources Energetic Exploitation research group of the Chemistry Department's National University of

**3** 

*Brazil* 

Vivian Feddern et al.\* *Embrapa Swine and Poultry,* 

**Animal Fat Wastes for Biodiesel Production** 

Our society is highly dependent on petroleum for its activities. However, petroleum is a finite source and causes several environmental problems such as rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. About 90% is used as an energy source for transportation, heat and electricity generation, being the remaining sources used as feedstocks in the chemical industry (Carlsson, 2009). As demands for energy are increasing and fossil fuels are limited, research is directed towards alternative renewable fuels (Bhatti et al., 2008). High petroleum prices and the scarcity of known petroleum reserves demand the study of other sources of energy. In this context, agroindustrial wastes (animal fats, wood, manure) play an important role as energetic materials. Oils and fats are basically triacylglycerols (TAG) composed of three long-chain fatty acids. These triacylglycerols have higher viscosity and therefore cannot be used as fuel in common diesel engines. In order to reduce viscosity, triacylglycerols are converted into esters by transesterification reaction. By this means, three smaller molecules of ester and one molecule of glycerin are obtained from one molecule of fat or oil. Glycerin is removed as by-product and esters are known as biodiesel (Fazal et al.,

Biodiesel fuels are attracting increasing attention worldwide as a blending component or a direct replacement for diesel fuel in vehicle engines. Biodiesel consists of a mixture of fatty acid (chain length C14-C22) alkyl esters, derived from a renewable lipid feedstock, such as vegetable oil or animal fat. In the case when methanol or ethanol are used as reactants, it will be a mixture of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) or fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE), respectively. However, methanol is commonly and widely used in biodiesel production due to its low cost and availability. Other alcohols such as isopropanol and butyl may also be used. A key quality factor for the primary alcohol is the water content, which interferes with the transesterification reactions and can result in poor yields and high level of soap, free fatty acids (FFA) and TAG in the final fuel (Demirbas, 2009a; Lam

Biodiesel is a low-emission diesel substitute fuel made from renewable resources and waste lipid. The most common way to produce biodiesel is through transesterification, especially

Anildo Cunha Junior, Marina Celant De Prá, Paulo Giovanni de Abreu, Jonas Irineu dos Santos Filho,

Martha Mayumi Higarashi, Mauro Sulenta and Arlei Coldebella

**1. Introduction** 

2011).

et al., 2010).

*Embrapa Swine and Poultry, Brazil.*

 \*

Colombia and sponsored for the research group CDM & EG of the Mechanical Department of Engineering Faculty of the National University of Colombia.

#### **7. References**

