Degradation of catalytic epoxidation of oleic acid palm oil by in situ performic acid

Abstract

Utilizing renewable resource such as palm oleic acid and convert into epoxide has attracted the interest of many researchers around the world. This paper aimed to study the effects of hydrogen peroxide, formic acid and water on the ring opening of epoxide groups using in situ generated performic acid. The results showed that the cleavage of oxirane rings was the most affected by hydrogen peroxide, followed by formic acid which led to the formation of diol and a-glycol as side products. The FTIR results indicated that the absorption band of hydroxyl group (O-H) was observed at 3100-3600 cm-1 in placement of the epoxy ring group (C-O-C) at 1210 – 1250 cm-1. It is imperative to minimize process losses via ring-opening in order to achieve good yields and high peroxide values of the epoxidized vegetable oil.