Abstract

Air pollution is one of the biggest environmental problems today, intensified by population growth and increased consumption of fossil fuels, which raise pollutant emissions and contribute to global warming. In this context, biofuels and biolubricants emerge as a sustainable alternative, since they are considered carbon-neutral, have gained prominence as biodegradable and low-toxicity substitutes for traditional materials, being produced from raw or modified vegetable oils. In this study, the objective was the production of biodiesel, used as an intermediate in obtaining biolubricants, using sweet almond oil as raw material. The methodology adopted for biodiesel production consisted of transesterification, followed by epoxidation with peracetic acid to obtain biolubricants. The characterization of the samples was carried out considering two distinct routes, methyl and ethyl, for both bioproducts, with these reactions occurring in a basic medium. In the study, biodiesel achieved a yield of 88% via the methyl route and 92% via the ethyl route, while epoxides showed 91.6% and 84.1%, respectively. These products demonstrate potential for reducing environmental impact, although biolubricants still have limitations regarding their application, requiring further studies.

Keywords:Biofuels; Lubricant; Environmental impact; Sustainability