The effect of amount of hydrogen peroxide on utilization of unsaturated fatty acids from avocado seeds waste into sourcing of raw materials in the making of epoxy compounds

Abstract

Epoxy compounds are compounds that contain oxygen groups that are formed by an epoxidation reaction between peroxide acid with aromatic unsaturated compounds. Epoxy compounds can be applied as stabilizers, plasticizers in PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and can be used as antioxidants in natural rubber processing, as surfactants, anti-corrosive additives in lubricating oils and pesticide raw materials. The raw material in this research is avocado seed oil. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of catalyst concentration, sulfuric acid, the amount of H2O2 (ml) and stirring speed (rpm) on the characteristics of epoxy compounds. In this study, the fatty acids contained in the raw material were reacted with hexane, glacial acetic acid, H2O2 with variations of 40, 50, 60 and 70 ml, sulfuric acid as a catalyst with a variations of 1.5; 2.0; and 2.5%, stirring speed with a variation of 400, 500, and 600 rpm, a reaction time of 180 minutes. The results showed that the best epoxy compound results were obtained at a catalyst concentration of 2.5%, 70 ml H2O2, reaction time of 180 minutes, and a stirring speed of 600 rpm, which obtained an oxirane oxygen content of 3.552, an iodine number of 1.269 and an oxirane oxygen conversion of 72.489%.