Catalytic epoxidation of palm oleic acid using in situ generated performic acid – Optimization and kinetic studies

In the past, epoxides were mainly produced from petroleum-based sources. To date, there is a paucity of studies on the optimization of process parameters specifically epoxidized palm oil-derived oleic acid (EPOOA) as it is not fully utilised. Thus, this work aims to optimise the reaction conditions of catalytic epoxidation of palm oleic acid (OA) concerning the relative content of oxirane. EPOOA was produced by using in situ formed performic acid by mixing formic acid (FA) as the oxygen carrier with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as the oxygen donor. The results showed the optimum reaction conditions to produce EPOOA to the response of oxirane content were catalyst loading of 0.5 g, the temperature of 75 °C, agitation speed of 300 rpm, molar ratio FA/degree of unsaturation of 1.0:1.0, and molar ratio H2O2/degree of unsaturation of 1.5:1.0. The maximum relative conversion to oxirane of palm OA to oxirane was achieved up to 85.6% by applying the optimum conditions. Finally, a mathematical model was developed using MATLAB software. In this model, the fourth-order Runge–Kutta method was integrated with the genetic algorithm to determine the reaction rate that fit with the experimental data. This study proved that palm OA was successfully transformed into an epoxide that promotes palm oil base utilisation as raw material.