About 40% of all energy consumed in the world comes from oil, coal and natural gas. These sources are limited,
with estimates of depletion in the future, so the search for
alternative sources of energy is of very important. In this context, vegetable oils appear as an alternative to replace the diesel oil in compression-ignition engines, and its use has already tested at the end of the nineteenth century, producing satisfactory results in their own diesel engine. The possibility of use of fuels from agricultural sources in the cycle diesel engines is very attractive in view of the environmental aspect, being a
renewable energy source and because of its development to reduce dependence on imported oil (New Chemistry, 2005).
Biodiesel is the generic name given to fuel additives and renewable sources. Compared to diesel fuel derived from oil, biodiesel can reduce by 78% emissions of carbon dioxide, considering the absorption by plants. Moreover, reduces by 90% emissions of smoke and virtually eliminates emissions of sulphur oxide. It is important to stress that the biodiesel can be used in any diesel engine cycle, with little or no need for adaptation (AZEVEDO, 2004).
The oil extracted from the castor bean berry can become the main product for the manufacture of biodiesel, it is therefore an alternative environmentally correct, can increase the generation of employment and income in the field, (the state of Bahia produces around 85% of the castor bean oil) especially in poorer areas, and reduce our dependence on oil derivatives.
The calorific value of biodiesel from castor bean is very close to the calorific value of mineral oil. The average difference in favor of diesel oil is in order of only 5%. However, with complete combustion, biodiesel has a specific consumption equivalent to mineral diesel (Portal of Biodiesel, 2006).
According to data collected by Pinto et.al, universities are the institutions that produce more technical articles on biodiesel in the world. Brazil boasts more specifically the 6 th place in the world ranking among the countries that produce more patents and articles with respect to Biodiesel. The operation of Biodiesel Pilot Plant of the Federal University of Bahia has the leverage and maintain the large participation of Brazil in this area.
To meet the needs of biodiesel scheduled for 2008, in Brazil, will require more than one million tonnes of esters of fatty acids per year and currently there are no prospects that this production is guaranteed and, in several towns in Brazil need to be self-sustaining processes that generate energy and electricity for their development.
The objective of this work is the comparative study of the production process of biodiesel, from the castor bean oil, with basic and catalysis route etílica / metílica, leaving the laboratory bench to the industrial scale, operationalised in Pilot Plant of biodiesel installed at the Polytechnic School / UFBA with capacity of 5,000,000 litres per year.