Hydrolysis - Hydrogenation of soybean oil and tallow

Abstract

Hydrolysis reactions are of major importance to the oleochemical industry in the production of fatty acid and their derivates. Hydrolysis of triglyceride from vegetable oil has been studied under various parameters such as: heterogeneous catalyst, temperature, reaction time and agitation speed. During the hydrolysis of soybean oil and tallow using nickel catalysts on alumina support was verified that the glycerol produced worked as hydrogen donor, allowing the hydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids produced. Maximum conversion was achieved in 3 hours, catalysts 25% NiO/Al2O3, temperature of 250oC and 270oC and 250 rpm.