Epoxidation of Ximenia americana seed oil

Abstract

Epoxidized Ximenia americana seed oil may be well suited in the partial replacement of petroleum products in synthesis of polyol. However, a process is needed to obtain this material from X. americana seed oil at sufficient conversion and scale to assess products. Therefore, X. americana seed oil was extracted using hot-water process and finally epoxidized in a solvent-free process in a three neck flask with the use of acetic acid as oxygen carrier, sulphuric acid as a catalyst and hydrogen peroxide. The studied parameters were iodine value conversion and oxirane oxygen content at varying time from 0 to 6 h and different temperatures 40 to 80°C. Epoxidized X. americana seed oil with up to 95.95 conversions was produced at a time of 6 h and temperature of 80°C. The result shows that the conversion of iodine value increased with reaction time and temperature. The highest amount of oxirane oxygen content of 3.60% was achieved at 4 h reaction time and temperature of 60°C. Interestingly, the oxirane oxygen content increased with reaction time and temperature then decreased after having achieved the optimal point. Key words: Oxirane, temperature, epoxidation, oil, Ximenia americana, seed