Heptaldehyde and undecylenic acid production from thermal and thermo-catalytic cracking of castor oil

Abstract

With the breakdown of ricinoleic acid through the cracking technique, either in the thermal or thermo-catalytic form, compounds of interest for green chemistry, such as heptaldehyde and undecylenic acid, can be obtained. These supplies are envisioned since they are building block chemicals. Therefore, the influence of operational conditions on the cracking process was evaluated using a 2 ³ experimental design, including temperature, water, and catalyst, with the aim of improving the yield of heptaldehyde and undecylenic acid supplies from castor oil, inedible oil. The operating conditions used in the cracking process were: temperature of 500, 525, and 550 °C, water fractions of zero, 12.5%, and 25%, and catalyst fractions of benzoyl peroxide of zero, 0.55%, and 1.1%. The analysis suggests that the central point utilizing thermo-catalytic cracking demonstrates superior operational conditions as they generate an average of 78.5% bio-oil, 21.97% heptaldehyde, and 17.25% undecylenic acid, with 12.5% water and 0.55% catalyst at a temperature of 525 °C.