GRANTED INVENTION PATENT

Technology Title: Process for Biodiesel Production from Wet Microalgal Biomass in the Presence of a Dispersing Solvent

Inventors:

Marcelo Gonçalves Montes D'Oca (Lattes CV)
Renata Rodrigues de Moura (Lattes CV)
Ednei Gilberto Primel (Lattes CV)
Paulo Cesar Vergne de Abreu (Lattes CV)
Diego da Costa Cabrera (Lattes CV)

Academic Units: School of Chemistry and Food – EQA; Institute of Oceanography – IO

Overview:
The present invention describes an efficient process for producing biodiesel derived from fatty acids in wet biomass from various microalgal species—regardless of differences in their cell wall composition. The method enables the synthesis of fatty acid methyl esters (biodiesel) using acetone as a dispersing solvent, in the presence of reagents and wet microalgal biomass. The key step is a hydrolysis–esterification reaction, which provides a novel, simplified methodology for obtaining methyl esters in good yields—without requiring chlorinated solvents or additional additives.

Patent Status: Granted. PATENT LETTER NO. BR 10 2018 006926 8, issued on June 7, 2022.

Abstract: Available at this link.