Carbón activado de residuos maderables de shihuahuaco (Dipteryx micrantha), y su aplicación en decoloración de aceite de castaña (Bertholletia excelsa)

Abstract

Activated carbon is characterized as a good adsorbent, for this reason, this investigation obtained the product via physical activation (water vapor) using residual wood chips of (Dipteryx micrantha) shihuahuaco. We than evaluated the application of the activated carbon in the process of refining vegetable oil extracted from the brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa). The results show that the carbon activated for 45 minutes has the greatest surface area of (430,24 m2/g), capable of adsorbing 3333 mg of methyl blue as well as having a greater quantity of activated sites available. The PH values oscillate between 9,85-9,30 which indicated a basic nature and its relations with the functional groups of carbon, with presence of links OH from alcohol group and aromatic groups. With 45-minute activation we found a greater number of micropores. Considering these optimal characteristics, the activated carbon was used to refine and discolor the brazil nut oil. The process of adsorption of molecules contained in the brazil nut oil responsible for the color can take approximately 20 minutes to clarify 14,13 % of brazil nut oil. The results suggest that activated carbon obtained from wood chips of shihuahuaco can provide material with important textural and adsorbent properties.