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Production of Palm-Based Esteramine Through Heterogeneous Catalysis

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Journal of Surfactants and Detergents

Abstract

This study involved maximizing the conversion of palm-based methyl palmitate to esteramine, an intermediate for esterquats via transesterification with triethanolamine, aided by Ca–Al as a heterogeneous catalyst in a 500-ml reaction unit. The effect of process parameters on the conversion was investigated. The optimum process parameters, consisting of a mole ratio of 1.8:1 (methyl palmitate:triethanolamine), 170 °C, 10 mbar, 0.5 % catalyst and a duration of 2 h, produced more than 90 % conversion. Transesterification employing Ca–Al is more environmentally friendly than the conventional approach using sodium methoxide, simplifies the downstream separation process and the reusability of the catalyst was successfully tested in three subsequent cycles.

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Acknowledgments

This work was carried out at the Center for Separation Science and Technology (CSST) of University of Malaya in collaboration with the Advanced Oleochemical Technology Division of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB). This study was financially supported by the MPOB.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Mohamed Kheireddine Aroua & Rozita Yusoff

  2. Advanced Oleochemical Technology Division, Malaysian Palm Oil Board, 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Haliza Abdul Aziz, Noor Azeerah Abas, Zainab Idris & Hazimah Abu Hassan

Authors
  1. Haliza Abdul Aziz
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  2. Mohamed Kheireddine Aroua
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  3. Rozita Yusoff
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  4. Noor Azeerah Abas
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  5. Zainab Idris
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  6. Hazimah Abu Hassan
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Correspondence to Haliza Abdul Aziz.

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Aziz, H.A., Aroua, M.K., Yusoff, R. et al. Production of Palm-Based Esteramine Through Heterogeneous Catalysis. J Surfact Deterg 19, 11–18 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11743-015-1736-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11743-015-1736-0

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