Modelagem e simulação da produção por fermentação e pirólise de bioplásticos para obtenção de biocombustível líquido

Abstract

The growing demand for sustainable fuels has driven the search for renewable alternatives to fossil fuels. In this context, the pyrolysis of bioplastics emerges as a promising solution for the production of liquid biofuels with suitable properties for high-performance vehicles. This work proposes the modeling and simulation of biofuel production from the pyrolysis of bioplastics, focusing on polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) produced by Pseudomonas putida, aiming at their application in high-performance vehicles such as Formula 1 cars. In response to this demand, a mathematical model was developed to simulate the microbial fed-batch cultivation process using Excel software. PHA production was modeled based on adapted Monod equations, combined with mass balances and the Luedeking-Piret equation for product synthesis estimation. Subsequently, the biopolymer was subjected to a thermal pyrolysis simulation, with a yield of up to 70% in bio-oil. The model considered the stages of extraction, thermal decomposition, and product distribution, highlighting the formation of 32.50 g of biofuel from 46.43 g of purified PHA. The results demonstrate the technical feasibility of converting microbial residues into liquid biofuels with characteristics similar to gasoline, reinforcing the potential of PHAs as a promising alternative for the sustainable automotive industry.