Abstract
The reduction of rubber seed oil to stearic acid was investigated under potentiostatic conditions in a medium of isopropanol and hydrochloric acid at a pH of 2.0–2.2. The efficiency of reduction was studied on various cathode materials. No reduction was observed on low-hydrogen-overvoltage materials such as platinum and nickel. However, rubber seed oil underwent successful reduction to stearic acid at a monel gauze cathode, which showed high hydrogen overvoltage. The yield was in the region of 70% at a current efficiency of 65%. The final crystalline product showed the presence of 81.5% stearic and oleic acids in contrast to the original oil which contained only 39.3% of these two acids, thus showing the almost complete reduction of linolenic and linoleic acids to stearic acid. The cathode material, the porosity of the ceramic diaphragm, the cathode potential and the pH of the medium were found to be the most critical parameters controlling this reduction process. Studies are now in progress to look into the industrial and economic viability of this conversion.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
