PRODUCTION OF BIODIESEL WITH VARIOUS RAW MATERIALS AND DIFFERENTIATION OF THE BIODIESEL-GLYCERIN PHASES AND WASHING WATER WITH VOLTAGE DIVIDER CIRCUIT AND ARDUINO

Abstract

In small-scale biodiesel production, generally, after the transesterification reaction, decanters are used to perform the separation of the biodiesel-glycerin and washwater-biodiesel phases (purification step). This separation method can be done in an automated way, through equipment that has systems of differentiation of immiscible phases through density, but that have a high cost in relation to the automation system; or it can be done manually through an operator, who through a transparent pipe must observe the passage of liquids and perform the control of the valves, being able to make errors in the visual analysis and consequently compromise the quality of the fuel being produced. Thus, in the present work the production of biodiesel was carried out from frying oil, vegetable oils (soybean, corn, canola and sunflower) and animal fats (beef, pork and chicken) in order to differentiate the biodiesel-glycerin and washwater-biodiesel phases through the difference of the analog reading in the Arduino between such phases. For this, a prototype was used that has an electronic system with Arduino along with an electrical conductivity sensor.