NON-CATALYTIC SYNTHESIS OF FATTY ACID ALKANOLAMIDES FROM PALM FATTY ACID DISTILLATE AND MONOETHANOLAMINE UNDER MICROWAVE IRRADIATION

Abstract

The non-catalytic synthesis of fatty acid alkanol amide (FAA) from the amidation of palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) and monoethanolamine (MEA) under microwave irradiation has been investigated. Parameters of the molar ratio of PFAD to MEA, reaction time, and microwave power were determined using the response surface method and the Box-Behnken experimental design. The optimum conversion of FAA of 98.89% was obtained under reaction conditions of ratio molar PFAD to MEA of 1:1, a reaction time of 18.5 minutes, and a microwave power of 100%. The formation of FAA compounds was confirmed with FT-IR which showed stretching vibration of C-N groups at a wavenumber of 3301.89 cm-1 supported by the appearance of stretching vibrations of C-N-H and C-N at wavenumbers 1557.03 cm-1 and 1466.08 cm-1. The GC-MS spectrum showed the confirmation of the formation of FAA compounds where several alkanol amide derivatives are N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-Octanamide, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)- Decanamide, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-Dodecanamide, N-(2- hydroxyethyl)-Hexadecanamide and N-(2-hydroxyethyl)- Octadecanamide were identified to be formed.