Studies of amino acids for inhibition of aldol condensation and dissolution of polymeric product of aldehyde in alkaline media

Abstract

Compounds with acidic and basic functional groups (aspartic acid, arginine, and cystine) are evaluated for inhibition of aldol condensation and dissolution of product in alkaline media. Inhibition efficiency of amino acids were studied at varied mole ratios of acetaldehyde to antipolymerant (2, 5, and 10), reaction temperature, and caustic concentration as a function of time (0.25, 1.0, 2.0 and 24.0 h) using UV spectrophotometry. Results obtained have been compared with efficiency of known amine derivatives. Arginine showed better efficiency when compared with aspartic acid and cysteine. Furthermore, data indicate that presence of carboxylic group in addition to amine group facilitates inhibition as well as dissolution of aldol polymer in alkaline media, while compounds with amine group acts as inhibitor for aldol condensation only.