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Final Year Project Log Book

This document presents the problem statement and scope of work for a research project aiming to optimize the yield and stability of epoxidized palm oil. Specifically, it notes that the demand for epoxide materials is increasing but current epoxidation methods lead to side reactions and low yields due to the reactive oxirane ring. The research objective is to use Response Surface Methodology to optimize the epoxidation reaction parameters of temperature and sulfuric acid catalyst loading to maximize yield and ring stability. The scope of work involves studying the reaction parameters that influence side reactions, selecting the two variables to investigate, using RSM to predict experimental outcomes, conducting experiments, and analyzing results statistically to determine optimal conditions.

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175 views3 pages

Final Year Project Log Book

This document presents the problem statement and scope of work for a research project aiming to optimize the yield and stability of epoxidized palm oil. Specifically, it notes that the demand for epoxide materials is increasing but current epoxidation methods lead to side reactions and low yields due to the reactive oxirane ring. The research objective is to use Response Surface Methodology to optimize the epoxidation reaction parameters of temperature and sulfuric acid catalyst loading to maximize yield and ring stability. The scope of work involves studying the reaction parameters that influence side reactions, selecting the two variables to investigate, using RSM to predict experimental outcomes, conducting experiments, and analyzing results statistically to determine optimal conditions.

Uploaded by

Nadia Refai
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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2.

0 PROBLEM STATEMENT

From day to day, the utilization and demand for epoxide has increased significantly.
Globalisation and advanced research on technology has increased the awareness on green
epoxide instead of petroleum-based epoxide. Epoxy from refined, bleached, deodorized (RBD)
palm oil has been recognized as one of the potential oil to produce bio lubricant. The plant oil
is the best as substitution to mineral oil with its capability to biodegrade, having an excellent
lubricity and high viscosity index property [1]. Other than that, the trend for utilization of
epoxide as additives in modification of polymer and raw materials for synthesis of dissimilar
polymeric materials had widened rapidly. Plant oil such as palm oil are not only non-toxic,
renewable sources but also can be purchased at low price [2]. Epoxides from unsaturated fatty
acid also has been used as stabilizers for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and as plasticizers that are
well-suited with PVC. Epoxides are used to enhance the toughness, flexibility, elasticity and
stability towards heat and UV radiation [3]. Moreover, epoxide from palm oil are used as raw
materials for manufacture of intermediates such as alcohols, glycols, mercaptoalcohols and
complex carbonyl compounds [4]. The usage of epoxide as base materials in production of
adhesives, paints and coatings due to rising construction sector and increasing auto sales also
shows the need to fulfil the demand of epoxide that are increasing rapidly [5].

However, the exceedingly reactive oxirane ring of epoxidized palm oil had become an
obstacle in obtaining high yield of epoxide as intermediate product. In order to obtain high
molecular weight of product, the cross-linking chain would be increased. Nevertheless, the
usage of strong mineral inorganic acid such as Sulphuric Acid (H2SO4) as catalyst in
epoxidation process, would contributes to many side reactions which includes oxirane ring
opening to diols, hydroxyl esters, estelloids and other dimer formation [6]. At low pH value,
the epoxide oxygen would partially protonated and readily attacked by a nucleophilic at the less
sterically hindered site [7]. Epoxides that are highly reactive due to the inherent ring strain and
would readily react with nucleophiles would cause ring opening and thus degradation of the
oxirane. Longer reaction time are also being associated with more chances of the reaction
molecules to collide with each other. As the reaction time increased, more degradation of
oxirane would occur [8]. Hence, the occurrence of side reaction in preparation of epoxidation
of palm oil is crucial as it will diminish the attractiveness as starting material and causing
expensive purification of the epoxides [1].
Thus, a method to improve the yield and epoxy ring stability is developed by using a
statistical method termed as Response Surface Methodology. Temperature of the epoxidation
reaction and H2SO4 catalyst loading has been chosen as the independent variables and their
effect towards the yield and stability of oxirane ring would be investigated.

3.0 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE

1. To optimize the yield and ring stability of epoxidized palm oil using Response Surface
Methodology (RSM) statistical optimization method.

4.0 SCOPE OF WORK

In order to reach the objective, first of all, a deep study on the process parameters for
epoxidation of palm oil at which the runway reactions take place is carried out. This study is
important so that the parameters that contributed the most on the epoxidation reaction and
degradation of oxirane ring could be determined. Hence, two independent variables which are
temperature and H2SO4 catalyst loading had been chosen. The effects of the variables on yield
of epoxidation and stability of oxirane ring would be investigated. Prior to the experiment to be
carried out, an optimization method called Response Surface Methodology (RSM) by using
Minitab software are done to predict the outcome of the experiment. Then, results obtained
from experiment would be analysed and to be compared with the theoretical value obtained by
RSM method statistically. From the response curve generated by Minitab software, the best
yield and catalyst loading for epoxidation of palm oil could be obtained.
9.0 REFERENCES

[1] H. Sintesis et al., “Using central composite experimental design to optimize the
degradation of Tylosin from aqueous solution by Photo-Fenton reaction,” Materials
(Basel)., vol. 9, no. 6, pp. 216–220, 2016.

[2] P. Czub and I. Franek, “Epoxy resins modified with palm oil derivatives- preparation
and properties,” Polymery, vol. 58, no. 2, pp. 135–139, 2013.

[3] M. Ni, F. Fong, and J. Salimon, “Epoxidation of Palm Kernel Oil Fatty Acids,” J. Sci.
Technol., pp. 87–98, 2011.

[4] F. Rizqon, S. Bismo, and M. Nasikin, “Formulation and Performance of Palm-grease


Using Calcium Soap,” vol. XII, pp. 1–10, 2010.

[5] Dr. Mitch Javidi, “◉ Leadership Team » Beroe Inc - Advantage Procurement,” 2018.
[Online]. Available: https://www.beroeinc.com/leadership/. [Accessed: 23-Sep-2018].

[6] T. Saurabh, M. Patnaik, S. L. Bhagt, and V. C. Renge, “Epoxidation of Vegetable Oils :


a Review,” no. Iv, 2011.

[7] K. M. Phizackerley, M. Jumaa, A. Lopalco, B. H. Wolfe, C. D. Ablan, and V. J. Stella,


“Mechanism of Degradation of an α-Keto-Epoxide, a Model for the Warhead for Various
Proteasome Inhibitor Anticancer Agents,” J. Pharm. Sci., vol. 106, no. 4, pp. 1051–1061,
2017.

[8] R. B. D. P. Olein, “Study on the Kinetics of Epoxidation Reaction of Study on the


Kinetics of Epoxidation Reaction of RBD Palm Olein.”

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