Biodiesel Synthesis from Palm Fatty Acid Distillate Using Tungstophosphoric Acid Supported on Cesium-Containing Niobia

Tungstophosphoric acid supported on cesium-containing niobia (TPA/Cs _x /Nb₂O₅, x = 1.0–2.5) catalysts were prepared by a two-step impregnation method, and their physico-chemical properties were investigated. The initial studies on the esterification of oleic acid with methanol revealed that TPA/Cs ratio affected the acidity as well as the activity of the catalysts. Among the catalysts tested, TPA/Cs_1.0/Nb₂O₅ exhibited the best performance. In addition, the efficiency of TPA/Cs_1.0/Nb₂O₅ for biodiesel synthesis from palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD), a by-product from palm oil industry, was demonstrated, and the reaction parameters were also evaluated. Over 90% yield of FAME was achieved, and the properties of the biodiesel obtained from PFAD met the standard requirements for biodiesel fuel. However, deactivation of the catalysts was observed, possibly due to structural transformation or organic residues blocking the active sites.     

Synthesis and Application of Palm Fatty Acid Distillate Based Alkyd Resin in Liquid Detergent

Palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) is the by-product obtained during physical refining of crude palm oil, which mainly consists of free fatty acids along with minor amounts of glycerides, bioactive compounds such as tocopherols, tocotrienols, phytosterols, squalene, other hydrocarbons. In the present work, an eco-friendly alkyd resin was prepared using sustainable feedstock such as PFAD along with rosin. The various physico-chemical properties of PFAD-based alkyd resin (PFAD-AR) such as acid value, saponification value, viscosity and volatile matter were determined and compared to palm oil based alkyd resin (PO-AR). The structural properties of the alkyd resins were investigated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) spectroscopic techniques. The study presents the utilization of PFAD-based alkyd resin with sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) in the liquid detergent formulation. The performance properties of the PFAD-based alkyd resin liquid detergent formulations such as surface tension, wetting power and detergency were comparable with palm oil based alkyd resin liquid detergent formulations and with commercial liquid detergent (CLD). Surface tensions of liquid detergent formulations varied from 20 to 30 mN/m with decrease in concentration. The foaming properties of alkyd resin based liquid detergents are reduced with the increase in the amount of alkyd resin polymer in the formulations. Therefore, it has potential application as a foam reducer in detergent for washing machines.     

Esterification of Palm Fatty Acid Distillate Using a Sulfonated Mesoporous CuO‐ZnO Mixed Metal Oxide Catalyst

A nanocrystalline mesoporous CuO‐ZnO hollow sphere was successfully fabricated by the hydrothermal method. The nanocomposite was formed in the presence of polyethylene glycol as a dispersant and D‐glucose as a template. The mesoporous CuO‐ZnO catalyst was further functionalized with benzenesulfonic acid to catalyze the esterification of palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD). The physicochemical, textural, structural, and thermal properties of the mesoporous CuO‐ZnO mixed‐oxide catalysts were evaluated. The modified mesoporous catalyst possessed unique textural properties. With a Cu/Zn atomic ratio of 1.0 the best catalytic activity through PFAD esterification was achieved. The optimum reaction conditions in terms of methanol/PFAD molar ratio, catalyst concentration, reaction temperature, and reaction time were determined.     

Dry Fractionation Approach in Concentrating Tocopherols and Tocotrienols from Palm Fatty Acid Distillate: A Green Pretreatment Process for Vitamin E Extraction

Palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) is a rich source of vitamin E. As compared to other vegetable oil, PFAD has higher tocotrienol (70–80%) over tocopherol content, which makes it a valuable source for vitamin E extraction. Current vitamin E extraction methods are not sustainable due to the intensive usage of chemical and high operational cost. Hence, the present study investigated for the first time using dry fractionation process as a green and economical pretreatment method for separating solid fraction (stearin) and liquid fraction (olein) in order to concentrate vitamin E from PFAD in olein fraction. We examined the dry fractionation conditions: crystallization ending temperature (36–44 °C), cooling rate (0.3 and 1.5°C min⁻¹), stirring speed (20–125 rpm), and holding time (0–60 min) on the composition of unsaturated and saturated fatty acids as well as vitamin E content in liquid fraction (olein) and solid fraction (stearin) using gas chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography, respectively. In most of these conditions, vitamin E was ultimately higher in olein fraction as compared to stearin fraction, which is correlated with the high degree of unsaturation. Under a cooling rate of 0.3°C min⁻¹, 90 rpm stirring speed, and ending crystallization of 38 °C, the highest vitamin E rich olein fraction was attained with 1479 ± 10.51 ppm in 50 g olein fraction as compared to 1366 ± 7.94 ppm in 500 g of unfractionated PFAD.     

Esterification of palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) in supercritical methanol: Effect of hydrolysis on reaction reactivity

This study demonstrated the potential use of local palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) as alternative feedstock for fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) production and the possibility to replace the conventional acid-catalyzed esterification process (with H₂SO₄), which was industrially proven to suffer by several corrosion and environmental problems, with non-catalytic process in supercritical methanol. At 300 °C with the PFAD to methanol molar ratio of 1:6 and the reaction time of 30 min, the esterification of PFAD in supercritical methanol gave FAMEs production yield of 95%. Compared with transesterification of purified palm oil (PPO) in supercritical methanol, the production of FAMEs reached the maximum yield of only 80% at 300 °C with higher requirement for methanol (1:45 PPO to methanol molar ratio). Compared with the conventional acid-catalyzed esterification of PFAD, only 75% FAMEs yield was obtained in 5 h. The presence of water in the feed (between 0 and 30% v/v) was found to lower the yield of FAMEs production from PFAD significantly. This negative effect was proven to be due to the further hydrolysis of FAMEs, which nevertheless can be minimized when high content of methanol was used.     

固体酸催化剂在丙烯酸酯化反应中的合成与应用

研究了多种用于合成丙烯酸酯的固体酸催化剂，以代替浓硫酸，初步探索了负载型固体酸催化剂的制备方法对催化剂性能的影响。     

氨基磺酸的合成和在催化酯化反应中的应用

介绍了氨基磺酸的性质、质量指标及检测方法、各种合成方法及特点 ,并报道了氨基磺酸作为固体强酸催化剂在酯化反应中的应用