Direct ethoxylation of fatty methyl ester over Al-Mg composite oxide catalyst

For the purpose of estimating the reaction mechanism of the direct ethoxylation of a fatty ester in the presence of an Al-Mg composite oxide catalyst, a labeled fatty methyl ester C₁₁H₂₃CO¹⁸OCH₃ containing ¹⁸O isotope was synthesized and directly ethoxylated. The product was evaluated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The GC-MS spectra showed that the ¹⁸O isotope label was present only in the methoxy group at the molecular end of the ethoxylated fatty methyl ester. This supports the reaction mechanism of coordination anionic polymerization where the bond between the acyl and methoxy groups of the fatty methyl ester molecule was broken, caused by the bifunctional effect of the acid-base active sites; an intermediate chemisorption species was formed; and then ethylene oxide was addition-polymerized sequentially, in parallel.     

Influence of catalyst structure on direct ethoxylation of fatty methyl esters over Al-Mg composite oxide catalyst

During direct ethoxylation of fatty methyl ester over Al-Mg composite oxide catalyst, the activity was nearly proportional to the total number of active Al acidic sites on the catalyst surface per unit weight of catalyst. Lower active Al acidic site densities resulted in a narrower ethylene oxide (EO) adduct distribution of obtained ethoxylate. We developed a new catalyst with a large surface area on which many acidic sites are distributed uniformly by partially poisoning the Al acid sites of high-Al content Al-Mg composite oxide with alkali. This catalyst was used for direct ethoxylation of fatty methyl esters to obtain ethoxylated fatty methyl esters with narrow EO adduct distribution efficiently.     

Effects of ethoxylate structure on surfactant properties of ethoxylated fatty methyl esters

In the presence of a surface-modified Al-Mg composite oxide catalyst, ethoxylated fatty methyl esters with different hydrophobic group structures and different chain-lengths of polyoxyethylene were synthesized from fatty methyl esters by direct ethoxylation. Each ethoxylated fatty methyl ester obtained showed a narrow ethylene oxide (EO) adduct distribution. Foaming, ability to lower surface tension, ability to lower interfacial tension, wettability, and dye solubilization were measured. Ethoxylated methyl laurate with about 60 to 70% EO content was found to be the most suitable as a base surfactant for household detergents     

Nonionic surfactant properties of methoxypolyoxyethylene dodecanoate compared with polyoxyethylene dodecylether

Nonionic surfactant properties of methoxypolyoxyethylene dodecanoate [C₁₂-EFME; C₁₁H₂₃CO-(OCH₂CH₂) _n CH₃] with varying ethylene oxide (EO) adduct distributions were compared with those of polyoxyethylene dodecylether [C₁₂-alcohol ethoxylate (AE); C₁₂H₂₅O(CH₂CH₂O) _n H]. The gelling region of C₁₂-EFME was much smaller than that of C₁₂-AE due to the effects of the ester bond and the terminal methyl group. When the EO adduct distribution of EFME is narrowed, the cloud point and the ability to lower interfacial tension do not change appreciably. Other effects of narrow distribution on EFME performance include a decrease in the gellation region and better foam breaking and wetting.     

Analysis of the dark-colored impurities in sulfonated fatty acid methyl ester

A fractionally distilled C₁₄−C₁₆ fatty acid methyl ester, derived from palm oil, was sulfonated with gaseous SO₃ in a falling film reactor to form an α-sulfo fatty acid methyl ester (α-SF; unbleached and unneutralized form). The included dark-colored impurities were then separated from α-SF as a diethyl ether-insoluble matter. After purification by thin-layer chromatography, the colored species were analyzed by ion-exchange chromatography, gel-permeation chromatography, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry. These data suggested that the colored species were polysulfonated compounds with conjugated double bonds. Minor components in the raw fatty acid methyl ester, found by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, were spiked into the purified methyl palmitate and then sulfonated. The unsaturated methyl ester and hydroxy ester showed the worst color results. The methyl oleate and methyl 12-hydroxystearate were then sulfonated and analyzed. Deep black products were obtained, which showed the same properties as the colored species in α-SF. It was concluded that low levels of unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters and hydroxy esters in the fatty acid methyl ester are the main causes of the coloring.     

Skin compatibility and ecotoxicity of ethoxylated fatty methyl ester nonionics

Ethoxylated fatty methyl esters (EFME) are nonionic surfactants obtained by direct insertion of ethylene oxide to fatty methyl esters in the presence of a composite metal oxide catalyst. Results of cumulative skin irritation testing of EFME on guinea pigs indicate that EFME are less irritating compared to ordinary alcohol ethoxylates (AE). Good skin compatibility of EFME is further illustrated by an in vitro hemolysis test and an in vitro cytotoxicity test. From the standpoint of environmental properties, EFME are readily biodegradable and are less toxic than AE. These results indicate the outstanding dermatological compatibility and good environmental compatibility of EFME.     

Remarks on official methods employing boron trifluoride in the preparation of methyl esters of the fatty acids of fish oils

Some “official methods” for preparing methyl esters of the fatty acids from oils or fats may be referred to by users as the boron trifluoride (BF₃) method and invariably have two stages. The first stage, brief treatment with alkali [commonly NaOH in methanol (MeOH), sometimes NaOCH₃] and heat has been popularly described as a saponification step for over 30 yr. In fact, the disappearance of visible fat or oil is mostly transesterification, which can be accomplished in a few minutes under mild conditions. Free fatty acids (FFA) originally present, or produced by saponification, are not converted to methyl esters at this stage. The second stage, heating in BF₃-MeOH, has in practice been as short as 2 min. It can convert all FFA to methyl esters, but this step requires at least 30 min. Examples from the recent literature illustrate the necessity of extending the time for BF₃-MeOH transesterification of lipids or oils and methylation of FFA. No alkali transesterification is needed. Presented in part at the 88th Annual Meeting of the American Oil Chemists’ Society, Seattle, WA, May 1997.     

Preparation of malvalic and sterculic acid methyl esters from Bombax munguba and Sterculia foetida seed oils

A method has been developed for the preparation of highly pure malvalic (cis-8,9-methyleneheptadec-8-enoic) and sterculic (cis-9,10-methyleneoctadec-9-enoic) acid methyl esters starting from Bombax munguba and Sterculia foetida seed oils. The methyl esters of these oils were prepared by sodium methylate-catalyzed transmethylation followed by cooling (6°C) the hexane solution of crude methyl esters and separation of insoluble fatty acid methyl esters by centrifugation in the case of B. munguba and by column chromatography in the case of S. foetida. Subsequently, the saturated straight-chain fatty acid methyl esters were almost quantitatively removed by urea adduct formation. Finally, methyl malvalate and methyl sterculate were separated from the remaining unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters, in particular methyl oleate and methyl linoleate, by preparative high-performance liquid chromatography on C₁₈ reversed-phase using acetonitrile isocratically. Methyl malvalate and methyl sterculate were obtained with purities of 95–97 and 95–98%, respectively.     

乙氧基化脂肪酸甲酯的性能及丙氧基化改性研究

以单碳酸或混合酸甲酯为原料，通过一步法乙氧基化反应合成了不同链长的脂肪酸和不同EO数的乙氧基化脂肪酸甲酯(EFME)，测定了EFME的物化性能和应用性能。结果表明，EFME具有低成本、低泡等特殊优点，性能依赖EO加成数变化连续可调整，EFME中的封端甲基是导致其性能不同于AEO的最重要的结构因素。用PO对EFME进行化学改性，先加成PO的产品的起泡力更低、流变性更好，与不改性产品相比起泡力降为原先的29％；稳泡性降为原先的22％；黏度降低为原先的44％。说明PO位于分子的亲水端侧较处于疏水端侧对产品的泡沫性和流变性的影响程度更大，通过PO改性可以进一步开发EFME的新用途。     

Management of fatty acid methyl ester (fame) wastewater by a combined two stage chemical recovery and coagulation process

A two‐step treatment process for fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) wastewater was carried out at a laboratory scale and ambient temperature. In the first step, FAME was chemically recovered from the wastewater using three types of acid (H₂SO₄, HNO₃, and HCl) at different pH values ranging from 1.0 to 8.0. Optimally, approximately 15–30 mL/L of FAME was recovered when using H₂SO₄ at a final wastewater pH of 1–2.5 and a reaction time of 7 min. The properties of the recovered FAME were within the acceptable ranges for both community and methyl ester standards, except for the viscosity and the quantity of methyl ester. In the second treatment step, the aqueous phase discharged from the first step was adjusted to within the favourable pH range for chemical coagulation by either Al₂(SO₄)₃ (pH 4.5–10) or poly‐aluminum chloride (PAC; pH 2.5–7.0) by the addition of CaO, and then subjected to chemical coagulation with either Al₂(SO₄)₃ or PAC, as appropriate dose at 0–10 g/L. Under optimum conditions, >98.3%, 97.7%, and 99.2% of COD, BOD₅, and oil and grease were respectively removed using Al₂(SO₄)₃ at 2 g/L, whilst that achieved by PAC coagulation (at 1 g/L) was slightly lower at 98.2%, 96.5%, and 98.6%, respectively. The calculated operating cost of this management system was significantly cheaper than those using conventional management procedures, but will require an additional treatment stage such as biological remediation in sedimentation ponds to reduce the pollutant levels to acceptable limits.     

Producing Fatty Acid Methyl Esters from Free Fatty Acids with Ionic Liquids as Catalyst

Three Brønsted acidic imidazole dicationic ionic liquids (ILs) with different length of alkyl chains, [C_n(Mim)₂][HSO₄]₂ (n = 3, 6, 12), were prepared and used as catalyst for the esterification reaction of free fatty acids and methanol. Taking oleic acid as model acid, the catalytic performances of the synthesized ILs for the esterification were evaluated. The main physicochemical properties of the ILs, thermal stability, acidity, solubility in common solvents, and causticity on Austenitic stainless steel 316, were examined. [C₃(Mim)₂][HSO₄]₂ demonstrated the highest catalytic activity and enabled to assess the preliminary optimum esterification condition of oleic acid and methanol. Under optimized reaction conditions, the yield of oleic acid methyl ester was up to 95 %. The ILs have great potential as catalysts for producing fatty acid methyl esters from long‐chain free fatty acids.     

Interfacial Tensions of Ethoxylated Fatty Acid Methyl Ester Solutions Against Crude Oil

The dynamic interfacial tension (IFT) of ethoxylated fatty acid methyl ester solutions against n‐alkanes, kerosene, and diluted heavy oil have been investigated by spinning drop interfacial tensiometry. The influences of ethylene oxide (EO) groups and alkyl chain length on IFT were investigated. The experiment results show that the water solubility decreases with an increase in alkyl chain length or a decrease in EO groups. The ability to lower the interfacial tension against hydrocarbons improves with both increasing alkyl chain length and EO group at the best hydrophilic‐lipophilic balance, which can be attributed to the enhancement of the interfacial hydrophobic interactions and the rearrangement of interfacial surfactant molecules. The mixed adsorption of surfactant molecules and surface‐active components may reduce IFT to a lower value. C₁₈=E₃ shows the best synergism with surface‐active components. However, the IFT values against pure crude oil are obviously higher than those against hydrocarbons, which may be caused by the nature of heavy oil.     

Additive effects of acyl-binding site mutations on the fatty acid selectivity of Rhizopus delemar lipase

The fatty acid specificity and pH dependence of triacylglycerol hydrolysis by the Rhizopus delemar lipase acylbinding site mutant Val206Thr+Phe95Asp (Val, valine; Thr, threonine; Phe, phenylalanine; Asp, aspartic acid) were characterized. The activity of the double mutant prolipase was reduced by as much as 10-fold, compared to the wild-type prolipase. However, the fatty acid specificity profile of the enzyme was markedly sharpened and was dependent on the pH of the substrate emulsion. At neutral pH, strong preference (10-fold or greater) for hydrolysis of triacylglycerols of medium-chainlength fatty acids (C_8:0 to C_14:0) was displayed by the variant prolipase, with no hydrolysis of triacylglycerols of short-chain fatty acids (C_4:0 to C_6:0) and little activity manifested toward fatty acids with 16 or more carbons. At acidic pH values, the fatty acid selectivity profile of the double mutant prolipase expanded to include short-chain triacylglycerols (C_4:0, C_6:0). When assayed against a triacylglycerol mixture of tributyrin, tricaprylin and triolein, the Val206Thr+Phe95Asp prolipase displayed a high selectivity for caprylic acid and released this fatty acid at least 25-fold more efficiently than the others present in the substrate mixture. When presented a mixture of nine fatty acid methyl esters, the wild-type prolipase showed a broad substrate specificity profile, hydrolyzing the various methyl esters to a similar extent. Contrastingly, the double mutant prolipase displayed a narrowed substrate specificity profile, hydrolyzing caprylic methyl ester at nearly wild-type levels, while its activity against the other methyl esters examined was 2.5- to 5-fold lower then that observed for the wild-type enzyme.     

制备脂肪酸甲酯的新工艺研究

采用新型固体碱催化剂LDH/LDO进行菜油酯交换反应制备脂肪酸甲酯 ,产率达 98.5%以上。该工艺操作简单 ,可直接获得脂肪酸甲酯和副产物甘油 ,催化剂可回收再生 ,整个过程无三废污染。     

Fatty methyl ester hydrogenation to fatty alcohol part I: Correlation between catalyst properties and activity/selectivity

Fatty alcohols, derived from natural sources, are commercially produced by hydrogenation of fatty acids or methyl esters in slurry-phase or fixed-bed reactors. One slurry-phase hydrogenation of methyl ester process flows methyl esters and powdered copper chromite catalyst into tubular reactors under high hydrogen pressure and elevated temperature. In the present investigation, slurry-phase hydrogenations of C₁₂ methyl ester were carried out in semi-batch reactions at nonoptimal conditions (i.e., low hydrogen pressure and elevated temperature). These conditions were used to accentuate the host of side reactions that occur during the hydrogenation. Some 14 side reaction routes are outlined. As an extension of this study, copper chromite catalyst was produced under a number of varying calcination temperatures. Differences in catalytic activity and selectivity were determined by closely following side reaction products. Both activity and selectivity correlate well with the crystallinity of the copper chromite surface; they increase with decreasing crystallinity. The ability to follow the wide variety of side reactions may well provide an additional tool for the optimized design of hydrogenation catalysts.     

Determination of physicochemical properties of some fatty acid methyl esters by gas liquid chromatography

Physicochemical data such as vapor pressures (p⁰), heats of vaporization (ΔH_v), activity coefficents at infinite dilution (γ^∞) and excess partial molar entropy (ΔS _e ⁰ ) are considered important for conducting unit processes and designing reactor equipment. Scanty information regarding such data is available in the literature for the higher fatty acid methyl esters. The objective of this research was to determine the physicochemical properties of higher fatty acid methyl esters (C₁₁–C₂₃) by a gas-liquid chromatographic technique with SE-30 and diethylene glycol adipate as stationary phases. Correlations between carbon numbers and various thermodynamic properties have indicated definite trends, which could be useful in predicting the properties of unknown fatty acid methyl esters. The data generated may be useful to chemical engineers in the construction of storage tanks, solvent extractors and distillation columns. IICT communication no. 2993.     

不饱和油脂交叉易位合成生物煤油的研究

研究了一种将油脂转化为一种碳数类似煤油的轻质燃油的全新方法，其合成步骤主要是：首先将富含双键的油脂与甲醇酯交换得到脂肪酸甲酯；再将甲酯与3-己烯通过交叉易位合成一些列碳数在9到16的烯烃燃料油；最后通过精馏将烯烃燃料油与饱和脂肪酸甲酯分离即得所需轻质燃油（生物煤油）。     

Diffusion coefficients of C18 unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters in supercritical carbon dioxide containing 10% mole fraction ethanol as modifier

To determine the molecular diffusion coefficients of C18 unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) containing 10 mol% ethanol as a modifier, four methyl esters of C18 fatty acids, i.e., methyl oleate, methyl ricinoleate, methyl linoleate and methyl linolenate were selected as the typical solutes. The diffusion coefficients were measured at temperatures from 313.15 to 333.15 K and pressures from 15 to 27 MPa using the Taylor–Aris chromatographic peak broadening (CPB) technique. The influences of temperature, pressure, density and viscosity of the solvent mixture on the diffusion coefficients were examined. The results show that methyl oleate always diffuses faster than methyl ricinoleate at the same operating condition. Moreover, the D₁₂ values in ethanol-modified scCO₂ decrease with the increase of the number of C-C double bonds in C18-methyl ester, which is consistent with the trend reported in pure scCO₂. The diffusivity data are compared with the estimation of eleven predictive models. The modified Wilke–Chang equation is the best purely predictive model and the free volume model of Dymond with two adjustable parameter gives the least errors with average absolute deviations lower than 2.5%.     

An empirical approach in predicting biodiesel viscosity at various temperatures

A thermodynamic model is proposed for the determination of kinematic viscosities of saturated fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) of various chain lengths at different temperatures. The linearity of the natural logarithm of viscosity-carbon number, plot is limited to a narrow carbon number range. The predicted viscosities of FAMEs of C_12:0-C_18:0, which are commonly found in vegetable oils and used as biodiesels, agree well with the experimental values. The highest difference is 0.354 cSt (5.60%), for methyl stearate at 40 °C. When the proposed method for viscosity calculation of saturated FAMEs are used in combination with the methods for viscosities of biodiesel the mixtures, the predicted viscosities agree well with the values reported in the literatures and the measured values. The differences between the predicted viscosities and those reported in the literatures (at 40 °C) are 1.08 to 8.56% (for eight different vegetable oil methyl esters). The differences between the predicted viscosities and the measured values for coconut methyl esters, at 25, 40 and 50 °C are 9.20, 5.53 and 5.57%, respectively. The differences are slightly higher than those of palm oil methyl esters (4.48, 2.06 and 2.48%, respectively).The proposed method can also be applied to predict the viscosities of free fatty acids and it is speculated it may be applied to other homologous series as well.     

The development of nonchromium catalyst for fatty alcohol production

Fatty alcohols are obtained by hydrogenation of fatty acid methyl esters derived from coconut oil and palm kernel oil. Cu−Cr has been widely used as a hydrogenation catalyst. We have developed a new environment-friendly catalyst that could substitute for the conventional Cu−Cr catalyst, preventing the release of toxic hexavalent Cr. Here we report the development of Cr-free, Cu−Fe−Al oxide catalyst. We found that iron has a strong promoting effect nearly equivalent to that of Cr and that the addition of Al significantly improved the reuse property (durability) through a study of trivalent metal addition to Cu. Powder X-ray diffraction analysis of the used catalyst revealed that the Al addition suppressed the transformation of the CuFe₂O₄ component (Cu−Fe spinel) to α-Fe. It was concluded that the stabilization of CuFe₂O₄ during reduction improved the catalyst durability. A plant-scale experiment confirmed that the Cu−Fe−Al oxide catalyst performs as well as the conventional Cu−Cr catalyst.