Hydrogenation of canola oil in the presence of nickel and the methyl benzoate‐chrome carbonyl complex

Abstract

AbstractCanola oil was hydrogenated using a mixture of homogeneous methyl benzoate‐Cr(CO)3 and heterogeneous nickel catalysts. The effect of the methyl benzoate‐Cr(CO)3_to‐nickel ratio on the activity, specific isomerization index, linoleate and linolenate selectivities, and fatty acid composition was evaluated, and the results compared with those obtained with commercial nickel catalyst and methyl benzoate‐Cr(CO)3 used individually. At higher chromium‐to‐nickel ratios the activity of nickel was inhibited and the system behaved essentially like the pure chrome complex, while at low chromium‐to‐nickel ratios the characteristics of the nickel predominated. In a short transition zone relatively high reaction rates were obtained with significantly reducedtrans‐isomer levels in the product. In a broader sense, it may be possible to combine a homogeneous and heterogeneous catalyst while retaining the advantages of both. We may thus be able to design catalyst systems for specific applications.