A process to convert sunflower oil into a value added branched chain oil with unique properties

Abstract

The global interest in reducing the use of petroleum resources to mitigate climate change has created a need for the continuing demand for environmentally friendly systems from renewable resources to produce clean and sustainable technology. One promising approach involves the development of catalysts and process improvements to increase the efficiency of the chemical modification reactions. In this study, sunflower oil was used in the skeletal isomerization reaction to introduce methyl branching at the alkyl fatty acid chain of the oil (methyl-branched-chain triglycerides (MBC-TG)) in the presence of a modified H+-BETA zeolite catalyst. Such modification of the oil is proposed to improve its low temperature fluidity, by preventing precipitation at low temperatures. The modified catalyst was easy to handle and separate from the reaction products. The products were thoroughly characterized by common analytical instruments. To evaluate the practicality of this environmentally friendly process, a techno-economic model was constructed to estimate the production cost.