School of Chemistry
PROFESSIONAL MASTER IN BIOFUELS AND
PETROCHEMICAL ENGINEERING
Executive Coordinator: Prof. Dr Maria Letícia Murta Valle
Professional Master
School of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Brazil
Postgraduate Program in Technology of Chemical and
Biochemical Processes - TPQB
1st Class in
March 2009
Professional Master in Biofuels and
Petrochemical Engineering
Why a Masters Degree in Biofuels,
Petrochemicals and Fertilizers?
Brazilian Reality:
1. Increase in consumption of anhydrous and hydrated ethanol:
FLEX car and use of 20 to 25% v/v ethanol in gasoline
2. Increase in consumption of biodiesel: biodiesel content in
diesel is 5% v/v
3. Brazil imports methanol to produce methyl biodiesel: use of
ethanol is an alternative
4. New Investments in petrochemical plants, including in green
petrochemicals, and nitrogen fertilizers
Biofuels: Ethanol
 Around 18% of the fuels consumed in Brazil are already renewable.
Brazil produces ethanol only from sugarcane.
 Brazilian cars run on two types of ethanol:
1. hydrated ethanol consumed in engines developed to this end or in
flex fuel engines
2. anhydrous ethanol, which is mixed to gasoline without damages
for the engine, in proportions between 20% to 25%.
Ethanol Production: Hydrated and Anhydrous
2000 a 2012
Biofuels: Biodiesel
 Tens of vegetable species in Brazil can be used in the
production of biodiesel (B100), namely soybean, palm,
sunflower, babassu, peanut, castorbean and jatropha.
However, soybean and tallow are the
main raw materials used for the
production of biodiesel
Raw Materials Used in Biodiesel Production
2005 - 2012
Raw Materials Used in Biodiesel Production (B100) (m3) / 1000000
Raw Materials Used in Biodiesel Production (B100) (m3) / 1000000
Raw Materials Used in Biodiesel Production (B100) (m3) / 1000000
Biodiesel Production Evolution (B100)
2005 - 2012
Glycerin Resulting from Biodiesel
Production – 2005 - 2012
Methanol Consumption
2005 - 2012
Fertilizers
 Increase in fertilizer consumption from 2012 to 2013: 3.6%
1. Nitrogen fertilizer: +7.1%
2. Potassic fertilizer: +2.8%
 Imports for 2013, related to 2012, will be:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Intermediate: + 23.0%.
Nitrogenous: +24.3%
Phosphates : +40.4%
Potassic : +13.7%.
Construction of 5 Gas-Chemical Complex by Petrobras to
Increase the supply of urea, methanol and its derivatives,
reducing the need to import these products
Petrochemical
 Petrobras is constructing the Rio de Janeiro Petrochemical
Complex (Comperj) with a initial capacity of processing
165 thousand barrel per day.
 Brasken is investing highly
in the search for alternative
technologies that use
renewable raw materials
Diagnosis Social Demand
►There is a lack of specialists in these
areas:
1. Biofuels
2. Petrochemical
3. Fertilizers
Purpose of the PM and Egress
Profile
►Enhance the experience of graduates
►Strengthen the technological training
►Form professionals who will contribute to
the technological development of the
biofuels sectors, petrochemicals and
fertilizers
The proposal of the TPQB Program:
4 Concentration Areas
1. Production processes of petrochemicals and
fertilizers
2. Design of petrochemical plants and fertilizer
3. Process for biofuel production
4. Biofuels production plants design
Research Areas
1. Biofuel Production
2. Production of Alternative Fuels
3. Petrochemicals Production
4. Fertilizers
5. Industrial Units Design
6. Engineering, Control and Process Optimization
7. Environmental Engineering
8. Waste Recovery and Raw Materials
9. Management and Technological Innovation
10. Green Chemistry
Considering the Social Demand
Defining the profile of entering students:
1. Chemical Engineers
2. Bioprocesses Engineers
3. Industrial Chemists
4. Chemists
Total students
registered = 116
Undergraduate Course: Students Origin
► 66% of the students are between 25 and 35 years
► The average age is 29 years
Students Employment Bond
Provenance of the students
Among the 26 Brazilian states, 15 are represented in the course
 5% of the students are foreigners from:
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Argentina
The curricular structure
The curricular structure
Biofuels - Process
The curricular structure
Petrochemistry and Fertilizers - Process
The curricular structure
Biofuels and Petrochemistry - Design
Research Subjects
Until August 2013 were concluded 31 Master Dissertations
Teaching Staff of the PMEBP: 100% DSc
45 permanent professors into the course
and
8 collaborator professors
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PETROBRAS
EMBRAPA
CETEM
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