Epoxidation of vegetable oils and fatty acids: Catalysts, methods and advantages

Abstract

This study has attempted to show the efficiency of epoxidation under different catalysts conditions. It was found hat different catalysts have been used for epoxidation of oil and unsaturated fatty acid with almost complete conversion and mono-epoxide of unsaturated carbon. Catalysts such as H2SO4, Ti(IV)-grafted silica catalysts, tungsten-based catalyst, acidic ion, exchange resin, potassium peroxomonosulfate, alumina-catalzed have been studied. H2SO4 was found to be more effective in terms of oxirane complete conversion. The epoxidation of oils and unsaturated fatty acids is widely used for the production of oxiranes, valuable industrial products providing an access to various fine chemicals but none has yet found industrial application. The application of different catalysts enables the preparation of a number of epoxy compounds impossible to obtain by other methods, or considerable improvement of the yields of those currently studied. © 2010 Asian Network for Scientific Information.