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Conversion of oils to monoglycerides by glycerolysis in supercritical carbon dioxide media
Author(s) -
Temelli Feral,
King Jerry W.,
List Gary R.
Publication year - 1996
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 - 10.1007/bf02517943
Subject(s) - chemistry , glycerol , carbon dioxide , soybean oil , supercritical fluid , canola , chromatography , supercritical carbon dioxide , cottonseed , organic chemistry , food science
Glycerolysis of soybean oil was conducted in a supercritical carbon dioxide (SC‐CO 2 ) atmosphere to produce monoglycerides (MG) in a stirred autoclave at 150–250°C, over a pressure range of 20.7–62.1 MPa, at glycerol/oil molar ratios between 15–25, and water concentrations of 0–8% (wt% of glycerol). MG, di‐, triglyceride, and free fatty acid (FFA) composition of the reaction mixture as a function of time was analyzed by supercritical fluid chromatography. Glycerolysis did not occur at 150°C but proceeded to a limited extent at 200°C within 4 h reaction time; however, it did proceed rapidly at 250°C. At 250°C, MG formation decreased significantly ( P <0.05) with pressure and increased with glycerol/oil ratio and water concentration. A maximum MG content of 49.2% was achieved at 250°C, 20.7 MPa, a glycerol/oil ratio of 25 and 4% water after 4 h. These conditions also resulted in the formation of 14% FFA. Conversions of other oils (peanut, corn, canola, and cottonseed) were also attempted. Soybean and cottonseed oil yielded the highest and lowest conversion to MG, respectively. Conducting this industrially important reaction in SC‐CO 2 atmosphere offered numerous advantages, compared to conventional alkalicatalyzed glycerolysis, including elimination of the alkali catalyst, production of a lighter color and less odor, and ease of separation of the CO 2 from the reaction products.