Chromatographic Characterization of Potential Feedstocks for Biodiesel Production

In this work it was carried out the chromatographic characterisation of vegetable oils (castor, soybean, cotton and jatropha) and animal fats (beef tallow and chicken fat), considered as potential feedstocks for biodiesel production. The samples were transesterefied in microscale, followed by the characterisation by gas chromatographic with flame ionisation detector, regarding the proximate composition of present fatty acids. The results indicated some convergences in the composition of the fatty materials, regardless of origin, if animal or vegetable. The most relevant convergences were observed in the cotton and soybean oils in terms of linoleic acid (51.2% and 56.1%, respectively). The jatropha oil (Jatropha curcas) and chicken fat exhibited convergence in terms of oleic acid (42.4% and 42.1%, respectively). On the other hand, the stearic acid prevailed in the beef tallow (38.9%), with the ricinoleic acid predominant in the castor oil (87.0%). Of all the feedstocks investigated, the residuals fats (beef tallow and chicken fat) are considered the most favourable for biodiesel production, due to their lower cost associated with their structural nature. The beef tallow consists mostly of stearic acid (38.9%) while the chicken fat of the oleic acid (42.0%) and both present good oxidative stability, partly transferring this feature to the biodiesel derived. Moreover, are not competitors as feed sources as the soybean and cotton oils.