This work deals with esterification of palm fatty acids to produce biodiesel in a batch reactor, using homogeneous acid catalysts, evaluating the effect of the alcohol used, presence of water, type and concentration of catalysts. Methanesulfonic and sulfuric acid were the best catalysts. Reaction with methanol showed greater yields. It was showed very clearly that the presence of water in the reaction medium showed a negative effect in the reaction velocity. Kinetic parameters were estimated and molecular modeling was performed. Protonation of the carboxylic moiety of the fatty acid were defined as rate determinant step for the reaction.

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Duplex stainless steels are widely used in the chemical, nuclear and oil and gas industries. They have an austenitic-ferritic microstructure, in equal parts. In this work, the impacts on the mechanical properties, on the metallographic behavior and the analysis of the residual stresses caused after the welding process by coated electrode were analyzed. In these analyses, a specimen produced from a 10 mm thick duplex sheet was welded, and tensile tests, micrography and residual stress analysis by x-ray diffraction were carried out. The tensile test results showed values higher than those required by the material's manufacturing standard. The specimens broke in the base metal during the tests, indicating that the welding parameters were properly specified and applied to the specimen. The metallographic analysis showed an increase in the ferritic phase in the weld region, which makes this region susceptible to pitting corrosion in environments containing chlorides. Residual stress analysis showed tensile stresses in the weld bead, in the longitudinal and transverse directions, and in the HAZ and in the root compressive stresses in the transverse direction and tensile stresses in the longitudinal direction. These stresses must be considered in the design of equipment and structures manufactured from this steel and when using coated electrode welding, to avoid premature failure, especially fatigue failure.

Glycerol is the main byproduct from the production of biodiesel by transesterification of vegetable oils, and approximately 10% of total biodiesel production volume corresponds to glycerol. The profitability of various chemical processes depends, in part, on the sale of byproducts, which enables a reduction in the production costs and consequently, in the product's final price. Thus, it is necessary to look for alternatives to solve the problem of glycerol buildup, in order to avoid future environmental impacts and make biodiesel competitive in the growing market of biofuels. In this context, this study's objective is the development of a low cost and environmental clean technology that allows the conversion of glycerin into a greater value product. In this paper, an economic evaluation of production hydrogen using Aqueous Phase Reforming (APR) was conducted. Firstly, we detailed the technical assumptions in the study. Reactions were performed in batch reformer of 10 liters of capacity, at the temperature of 250˚C and pressure of 38 atm. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was performed. The results from economic evaluation show that APR of glycerol, using nickel catalysts supported on alumina or zirconium oxide, is a promising and competitive technology for hydrogen production.