CHEMO-CATALYTIC CONVERSION OF VEGETABLE OILS FOR SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION OF CHEMICALS AND BIOFUELS

In recent years use of biomass as a source of energy and raw materials has become a central theme in academic and industrial debate. Biomass indicates “the biodegradable fraction of products, waste and residues of synthetic origin from agriculture (including vegetal and animal substances), forestry and related industries, as well as the biodegradable fraction of industrial and municipal waste”. Two are the main modes of reuse: as it is, to produce energy, or via its chemical conversion. The related concept of biorefinery is defined by NREL as “an integrated structure for the conversion of biomass into fuels, energy and chemicals”. This PhD research project fits in this area and aims at obtaining the following classes of chemicals, starting from waste vegetable oils, as well as to design and/or optimize industrially transferable procedures: - Biofuels through esterification and transesterification of oils and free fatty acids with small chain alcohols. - Monomers for polyester synthesis, like long chain di-carboxylic acids, obtainable through oxidation of unsaturated free fatty acids. - Chemicals: base products, solvents or surfactants. Catalytic methods to obtain biofuel, mono and di-carboxylic acids and valorize the byproduct glycerol were successfully developed.