Otimização e avaliação do impacto ambiental de uma unidade de extração e purificação de óleo de mamona.

Abstract

The search of regional development coupled with an attempt to eradicate the small and medium rural properties' monoculture in Vale do Rio Pardo triggered the search for new products, and the castor oil was the alternative proposed in this study. The purification and extraction process of Castor oil was developed in order to reach an appropriate process to the regional features as well as low environmental impact. In this way, it were performed preliminary tests in the laboratory and in pilot scale using enzymatic degumming and drying oil. We carried this process out using seeds produced in COOPERFUMOS and with two extraction methods: one conveyed in UNISC and another by COOPERFUMOS. The obtained oil showed compatible quality with the requirements of rubber manufacture. Likewise, the COOPERFUMOS oil with high chlorophyll content was also clarified successfully. The study resulted in 93% of chlorophyll removal from the oil using bentonite clay. In addition, it was also assessed the environmental impact caused by the implementation of the oil purification unit through tools of cleaner production area (P + L). Therefore, it was used the Leopold Matrix which have generated the identification of 360 possible impacts, from which 157 impacts were identified as assistant in the proposing of mitigation actions and process control, mainly related to the use and installations of the equipment.