Epoxidation of Vernonia Oil in Acidic Ion Exchange Resin

Tegene Desalegn Zeleke

doi:10.11648/j.ajac.20170501.11

Tegene Desalegn Zeleke

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajac.20170501.11

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Abstract

In this study epoxidized vernonia oil (EVO) was synthesized by the epoxidation of vernonia oil using peroxyformic acid, formed in situ by the reaction of hydrogen peroxide and formic acid in the presence of an acidic ion exchange resin (Amberlite IR-120 hydrogen form) as the catalyst. This method of epoxidation has resulted in product with about 78% conversion. Acid exchange resin catalyzed epoxidation reactions are found to be promising in minimizing oxirane ring opening.

Highlights

Vegetable oils represent one of the cheapest and most abundant biological feedstock available in large quantities, and their use as starting materials offers numerous advantages, such as low toxicity and inherent biodegradability
The characterization of the epoxidized vernonia oil was carried out using 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy
Epoxidation of vernonia oil occurs in 78% yield using peroxyformic acid, formed in situ by the reaction of hydrogen peroxide and formic acid in the presence of an acidic ion exchange resin (Amberlite IR-120 hydrogen form) as the catalyst

Summary

Introduction

Vegetable oils represent one of the cheapest and most abundant biological feedstock available in large quantities, and their use as starting materials offers numerous advantages, such as low toxicity and inherent biodegradability They are primarily water insoluble, hydrophobic substances that are made up of one mole of glycerin and three moles of fatty acids, so called triglycerides. A broad variety of structurally different and ‘unusual’ fatty acids occur in the seed oils of plant species, with outstanding potential as feedstock for industry. They include unusual monounsaturated fatty acids, medium, short, or very-longchain fatty acids, fatty acids with additional functional groups such as epoxy and hydroxy groups, or fatty acids with conjugated double bonds [2]. Modern synthesis methods have been recently applied extensively to fatty compounds for the selective modification of the alkyl chain [3]

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