Optimization on Epoxidation of Palm Olein by Using Performic Acid

Abstract

The epoxidation process of palm olein (PO_o) was carried out by using in situ generated performic acid (HCOOOH) to produce epoxidized palm olein (EPO). HCOOOH was produced by mixing of formic acid (HCOOH) as oxygen carrier and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) as oxygen donor in various ratio of PO_o: HCOOH: H₂O₂. The effect of HCOOH and H₂O₂ concentration, temperature, stirring effect and reaction time were studied. The presence of oxirane ring of EPO was characterised by fourier transformation infra-red (FTIR), proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR and (¹³C-NMR) spectra. The results showed that an optimum oxirane oxygen content (OOC) value was obtained by using mol ratio of 1: 5: 2 at 150 minutes.