In Situ Epoxidation of Sesame Seed Oil for Synthesis of a Bio-based Resin

Abstract

This study is aimed at the modification of sesame seed oil to develop a biobased resin. Neat sesame seed oil was epoxidized via in-situ conventional method with peroxyacetic acid at 75oC. Biobased resins were synthesized by further modifying the epoxidised oil with acrylic and methacrylic acid respectively at 90oC in the presence of hydroquinone. Conversion rate of 76.54% and high oxirane content of 3.83% at a reaction time of 7 hours was achieved for the epoxidation process. FT-IR spectra of the acrylated and methacrylated epoxy resins of sesame seed oil were identified at 2710 and 3002cm-1 respectively. This ascertained the functionalization of the acids used for modification and clearly demonstrates the potential of sesame seed oil for biobased resin synthesis.