Resumen:
This work aimed to contrast the performance of
quicklime and CaO reagent grade as heterogeneous catalysts
for the safflower oil transesterification reaction.
Quicklime was characterized by TGA analysis, XRD,
atomic absorption, nitrogen physisorption and by
Hammett method. In the safflower transesterification reaction,
four main variables were studied: addition reagents
order, reagents dosage, type of catalyst and methanol-oil
molar ratio. The addition reagents order was not found to
be determinant on time for reaching equilibrium or maximum
methyl esters yield. On the contrary, reagents
dosage was found to negatively affect reaction rate and
methyl esters yield. It was found that quicklime performs
better than CaO and this was ascribed to an increased
basicity found in the former. From the results can also
be inferred that the use of quicklime as catalyst of the
transesterification reaction allows the decrease of the process
cost by reducing both, the reaction time and the
required amount of alcohol.