Catalytic Vicinal Diacylation of Epoxidized Triglycerides in Canola Oil

The epoxy ring opening and vicinal diacylation of fatty acids in vegetable oils was found to be promising reaction to synthesize stable biolubricants and bioplasticizers. The current research investigation is emphasized on the synthesis of a value added product vicinally diacylated canola oil by sulfated-ZrO 2 . The two-step research approach employed includes: (i) epoxidation, and (ii) epoxy ring opening and vicinal diacylation of epoxidized triglycerides in the canola oil. Sulfated-ZrO 2 was prepared and characterized to measure the physico-chemical properties required for the effective catalysis. The Taguchi (L16 orthogonal array) statistical design method was employed to optimize the process conditions for the maximum formation of diacylated canola oil. Sulfated-ZrO 2 demonstrated promising activity for the epoxy ring opening and vicinal diacylation of canola oil, and 99 % conversion was achieved at the optimum process conditions of temperature 130 °C, epoxy to acetic anhydride molar ratio (1:1.25), 16 wt% of catalyst loading and reaction time of 1 h which were inferred from the Taguchi analyses. The products were characterized and confirmed with FT-IR, 1 H NMR and sodium spray mass spectroscopy. Spectroscopic analysis also confirmed the absence of intermediate products. The statistical analyses was undertaken to determine the order, rank and interactions among the process variables. The reaction followed Langmuir–Hinshelwood–Hougen–Watson type mechanism and the kinetic data was fitted in overall second order equation. Calculated apparent activation energy was 23.1 kcal/mol.