CATALYTIC PROCESS TO THE ESTERIFICATION OF FATTY ACIDS PRESENT IN THE ACID GROUNDS OF THE PALM USING ACID SOLID CATALYSTS

摘要

This invention is, generally, related to the process to transform the fatty acids present in the acid grounds of the palm, into methyl or ethyl esters and to the use of catalysts in this process. The process described in this invention is a catalytic process, presenting the ranges of optima conditions of reaction in terms of temperature, pressure, spatial time and concentration of reagents, to the efficient transformation of the fatty acids in esters. This invention is also related to the use of acid sites based solid catalysts in the process to transform the fatty acids of the palm into methyl or ethyl esters. The process of transformation of the acid grounds of the palm may be performed in batch, in a continuous reactor with agitation, as well as in continuous reactors of fixed bed.