Empirical modeling of soybean oil hydrogenation

Empirical hydrogenation models were generated from statistically designed laboratory experiments. These models, consisting of a set of polynomial equations, relate the operating variables of soybean oil hydrogenation to properties of the reaction and of the fat produced. These properties include reaction rate,trans-isomer content and melting point. Operating variables included in the models were temperature, hydrogen pressure, catalyst concentration, agitation rate and iodine value. The effects of catalyst concentration and agitation rate were found to be significant in determiningtrans-isomer content, which in turn influences the melting characteristics of the hydrogenated oil. Pressures above 30 psig were found to have little effect ontrans-isomer content, although pressure was very important in determining reaction rate. Reaction temperature was observed as the most important factor in determining thetrans-isomer content for a given iodine value. Generally, 50 to 60%trans isomer content is predicted by the model for the iodine value range and operating conditions used in this study. Thus, these predictive models can assist in scaling up hydrogenation processes and in determining the optimum operating parameters for running commercial hydrogenation. Presented at the AOCS Meeting, Chicago, May 1983.