Journal of Oil Palm Research Vol. 30 (2) June 2018, p. 326-337

PERFORMANCE OF RECYCLED K10 MONTMORILLONITE CATALYST IN THE ALCOHOLYSIS OF EPOXIDISED PALM OLEIN

NORHAYATI MOHD NOOR*; HOONG SENG SOI*; TUAN NOOR MAZNEE TUAN ISMAIL*; NURUL ‘AIN HANZAH*; YEONG SHOOT KIAN* and ZAINAB IDRIS*

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21894/jopr.2018.0026
Published Online: 6 June 2018
ABSTRACT

The syntheses of palm-based polyols by the alcoholysis of epoxidised palm olein with isobutanol were carried out at 60°C. The isobutanol to epoxidised palm olein molar ratio was fixed at 2.1:0.2. These reactions were catalysed by recycled K10 montmorillonite catalysts, which had undergone heat treatment at different temperatures, i.e., 50°C, 100°C, 150°C and 200°C. The performance of the recycled K10 montmorillonite catalyst (untreated or treated) in the alcoholysis reaction and the role of acid sites content in the catalysts towards the alcoholysis reaction were investigated. Results had shown that all recycled and treated K10 montmorillonite had good catalytic effect on the alcoholysis reaction which produced palm-based polyols with similar properties when compared to fresh K10 montmorillonite catalyst. The highest acid sites content in the recycled K10 montmorillonite catalyst was obtained at 100°C heat treatment temperature. The high acid sites content in the catalyst had accelerated the alcoholysis reaction faster than the other recycled K10montmorillonite catalysts. It can be concluded that K10 montmorillonite catalyst can be fully recycled in the alcoholysis of epoxidised palm olein with isobutanol, which may offer the potential to reduce the cost of polyol production.

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* Malaysian Palm Oil Board, 6, Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru Bangi, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia.
E-mail: norhayati.mohdnoor@mpob.gov.my