Viabilidade técnica e econômica para a produção de goma xantana por fermentação a partir de glicerina bruta residual do biodiesel

Abstract

Xanthan gum is a biopolymer obtained from fermentation using the Xanthomonas bacterium. Xanthan gum has the characteristics of forming viscous solutions at low concentrations and great stability over a wide pH range. The main uses are in the food and cosmetic industries as a stabilizer and thickener, and in the oil industry it is used as an additive in drilling fluids and in oil recovery. The company aims to produce xanthan gum from an alternative carbon source, residual crude glycerin obtained from the biodiesel production process, in which 1 liter of glycerin is generated for every 10 liters of biodiesel. With this, aiming to reduce polymer imports and produce in large quantities with a more profitable destination for glycerin and without a direct national competitor, and thus encompass the oil companies. The company will be in the state of Mato Grosso in the city of Rondonópolis. The production of the plant will be 1400kg daily for 7 days a week, the process of obtaining the xanthan gum will be by submerged fermentation in batch, followed by precipitation with alcohol and subsequent centrifugation. Afterwards, drying and grinding will be carried out. The total investment in the plant will be 140 million reais.