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Combined Esterification and Short‐Path Distillation for High‐Purity Pentaerythritol Ester from Palm Kernel for Biolubricants
Author(s) -
Abd Maurad Zulina,
Yeong Shoot Kian,
Idris Zainab,
Ishak Siti Afida
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of the american oil chemists' society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.512
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1558-9331
pISSN - 0003-021X
DOI - 10.1002/aocs.12149
Subject(s) - pentaerythritol , distillation , palm kernel , organic chemistry , vacuum distillation , chemistry , acid value , materials science , chemical engineering , palm oil , food science , biochemistry , fire retardant , engineering
The development of specialty esters using palm‐based materials through a solventless and autocatalytic method was investigated. The C 8− C 10 fatty‐acid esters of pentaerythritol are the bases for high‐performance lubricants. In the present study, an easy and efficient method was developed using an esterification process coupled with short‐path distillation to produce high‐purity pentaerythritol ester (PEE) for the more complete removal of acid value (AV) in the end products. The compositions of the distilled PEE have the highest 96% w/w % tetraester at an evaporator temperature of 200–225 °C and a vacuum pressure of 0.05 mbar to retain a low AV of less than 1 mg KOH g −1 and a low hydroxyl value. The rate of heating at 30 °C h −1 was found to be crucial in obtaining high‐purity tetraester. According to Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) 301F, PEE is readily biodegradable and 100% biodegradability can be achieved in less than 9 days. PEE produced has shown lubricant properties and can be used as a base stock for biolubricant composition.