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Continuous transmethylation of palm oil in an organic solvent
Author(s) -
Krisnangkura Kanit,
Simamaharnnop Ratchadaporn
Publication year - 1992
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/bf02540569
Subject(s) - transmethylation , sodium methoxide , toluene , chemistry , methanol , organic chemistry , solvent , tetrahydrofuran , molar ratio , benzene , catalysis , biochemistry , amino acid , methionine
Palm oil was transmethylated continuously at 70°C in an organic solvent with sodium methoxide as a catalyst. The optimum ratio of toluene to palm oil is 1∶1 (v/v). When the methanol‐to‐oil molar ratio was 13∶1, transmethylation was 96% complete within 60 seconds. At higher molar ratio (17∶1), transmethylation was 99% complete in 15 seconds. For lower molar ratios of methanol‐to‐oil (9∶1 and 5.8∶1), yields of palm oil methyl ester (POME) were 84 and 58%, respectively. Benzene was also a good solvent for transmethylation, but the yield of POME was slightly lower than toluene. Tetrahydrofuran did not accelerate transmethylation.