RESEARCH ARTICLE

Journal of Oil Palm Research Vol. 9 No. 2, December 1997, p. 61-68

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE MONOETHANOLAMIDE FROM PALM OIL

DZULKEFLY, M*; HAMDAN, S*; ZAIZI, D*; ANUAR,K*; BADRI, M+

ABSTRACT

Palm monoethanolamide (PMEA) was synthesized by direct transamidation of palm oil with monoethanolamine of temperatures between 80-160°C. The maximum yield (85.5%) was achieved at a palm oil/monoethanolamine mole ratio of 1:3, temperature of 160°C, reaction time of 3 hours and catalyst concentration of 0.6%. Recrystallization using a combination of hot hexane and warm water were the best conditions to purify the PMEA, as judged by its melting point and infrared (IR) spectrum. The PMEA was not soluble in water and most hydrocarbon solvents. However, about 60% of it dissolved in a microemulsion system containing 25% water at 50°C. The transamidation process proceeded via a first order reaction with an activation energy of 17.4kJ/mol

KEYWORDS:


* Department of Chemistry,
Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies,
Universiti Putra Malaysia,
43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

+ Palm Oil Research Institute of Malaysia,
No 6, Persiaran Institusi Bandar Baru Bangi,
43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia.