PROCESS FOR PRODUCING ESTERS FROM VEGETABLE OILS OR ANIMAL FATS USING HETEROGENEOUS CATALYSTS

摘要

A process for producing esters of fatty acids and glycerin, using heterogeneous catalysts, particularly for producing biodiesel, which comprises the stages of: reaction of vegetable oils or animal fats with an aliphatic monoalcohol, at a temperature ranging from 100 to 250 °C, in the presence of a catalyst which comprises magnesium oxide or mixed oxides of magnesium and aluminum, obtained by calcination of hydrotalcite-like compounds which contain Al and Mg with an atomic ratio of Mg/Al > 1, forming esters of fatty acids and glycerin; separation of the unreacted monoalcohol; and separation of the fatty acid esters and of the glycerin.