Effect of Reaction Time and Catalyst Concentration on Making of Epoxy Compounds Using Sulphuric Acid Catalyst Based on Crystallized Palm Fatty Acid Distillate

Abstract

Epoxy is produced from an epoxidation reaction of vegetable oils such as linseed oil, corn oil, palm oil or natural oils that have unsaturated bonds. The aim of this research is to produce epoxy compound based on Crystallized Palm Fatty Acid Distillate. First, the gas chromatography analysis was done to the palm fatty acid distillate. Then, before the epoxidation reaction began, crystallization process was done based on solubility of saturated and unsaturated fatty acid in organic solvent (methanol). In this research, the Crystallized Palm Fatty Acid Distillate that has reacted with acetic acid glacial and hydrogen peroxide, toluene as solvent, sulfuric acid as a catalyst in a three-neck flask fitted with condenser reflux at 700C and stirred at 500 rpm. The catalyst concentration varied from 1.5%, 2.0%, 2.5%, 3.0% and 3.5% and epoxidation reaction time varied from 60 minutes, 120 minutes, 180 minutes, 240 minutes and 300 minutes. The results showed that the highest epoxy conversion was achieved at reaction time of 120 minutes with 2.5% sulfuric acid catalyst concentration against the amount of hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid used. The result of this analysis shows that oxirane oxygen content is 0.96%, iodine number is 17,16g iod/100 g oil and conversion equal to 81,61%.