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Ethanolysis of Refined Soybean Oil Assisted by Sodium and Potassium Hydroxides

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Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society

Abstract

The ethanolysis of refined soybean oil was investigated through a 23 experimental design that was carried out under the following levels: ethanol:oil molar ratios (MR) of 6:1 and 12:1, NaOH concentrations of 0.3 and 1.0 wt% in relation to the oil mass, and reaction temperatures of 30 and 70 °C. The ethanol:oil MR and the alkali concentration had an almost equivalent influence on the reaction yield, whereas the influence of increased reaction temperatures was very limited and higher catalyst concentrations led to greater yield losses due to the formation of soap. Ethyl ester yields of 97.2% were obtained at 70 °C, MR of 12:1 and 0.3 wt% NaOH. Replacement of 0.3 wt% NaOH by 1.0 wt% KOH under the same reaction conditions led to lower ester yields. Likewise the former, KOH provided the maximum ester yield (95.6%) at the highest molar ratio (12:1), with the reaction temperature having little influence on the catalyst performance. Ester yields beyond 98% were only achieved when a second ethanolysis stage was included in the process. In this regard, the application of 2 wt% Magnesol® after the first ethanolysis stage eliminated the need for water washing prior to the second ethanolysis stage and helped to generate a final product with less contaminating unreacted glycerides.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by research grants from LACTEC (Instituto de Tecnologia para o Desenvolvimento), CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico), Fundação Araucária and Corn Products Brazil.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Center in Applied Chemistry (CEPESQ), Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Paraná, Rua Francisco H. dos Santos, s/n, P.O. Box 19081, Curitiba, Paraná, 81531-990, Brazil

    Karla T. Kucek & Luiz P. Ramos

  2. Laboratory of Synthetic Polymers (LABPOL), Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Paraná, P.O. Box 19081, Curitiba, Paraná, 81531-990, Brazil

    Maria Aparecida F. César-Oliveira

  3. Department of Chemistry, Institute of Technology for the Development (LACTEC), Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

    Helena M. Wilhelm

Authors
  1. Karla T. Kucek
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  2. Maria Aparecida F. César-Oliveira
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  3. Helena M. Wilhelm
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  4. Luiz P. Ramos
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Luiz P. Ramos.

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Kucek, K.T., César-Oliveira, M.A.F., Wilhelm, H.M. et al. Ethanolysis of Refined Soybean Oil Assisted by Sodium and Potassium Hydroxides. J Amer Oil Chem Soc 84, 385–392 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11746-007-1048-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11746-007-1048-2

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