UNSAPONIFIABLE MATTER FROM SUGAR CANE FILTER CAKE USING ETHANOL AS SOLVENT

In this paper, we propose a methodology for the obtaining of unsaponificable matter starting from the sugar cane filter cake, in the one that only ethanol 96 °GL is used as solvent. The wax is extracted of the mud with ethanol (with a purity of 96 ºGL) by means of a leaching out process using a mud/ethanol ratio of 0.05 kg/L to 70 ºC, atmospheric pressure, agitation speed of 700 rpm and extraction time of 2,5 hours. Under these conditions 86.21 % of extraction is obtained. Then, the obtained extract reacts with alcoholic NaOH to 70 ºC during 75 minutes to atmospheric pressure and shaking to 200 rpm. The employment of the proposed methodology allows to obtain 1.942 g of impure unsaponifiable matter starting from 50 g of mud and 1.05 L of ethanol 96 °GL.