Transesterification of sugar cane wax using ethanol

Abstract

This paper is aimed at the production of an esther made from wax found in sugar cane mud, which is a residue of the sugar industry; using superfine ethanol like transesterificant agent in the biodiesel reaction. The process was carried out using ethanol and sodium ethoxide as catalyst (1wt% of the wax). A methodology was determined to achieve the transesterification reaction, using ethanol with a purity of 96ºGL and molar ratio ethanol: wax of 3, 5:1 and 15:1, this last one resulting in soap formation during the reaction, probably because of the water presence in the ethanol. Wax conversion was 73%.