Process Characterization Studies for Solvent-Free Simultaneous Epoxidation and Transesterification of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters

In this study, an efficient and high-yield simultaneous epoxidation and transesterification of fatty acid methyl esters in a single-pot reaction is presented. Starting from commercially available renewable unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) from plant oils, the epoxidation catalyzed by Novozym 435 was optimized for a temperature of 50 °C in two different reactor types on the multigram scale. Simultaneous transesterification of the methyl esters to iso-nonyl esters was also studied and optimized for same conditions resulting in an efficient process for synthesis of epoxy fatty acids esters from renewable feedstock.

Subjects

alkyl fatty acid esters

bubble column

epoxidation

esterification

lipase

stirred tank reactor

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Process Characterization Studies for Solvent-Free Simultaneous Epoxidation and Transesterification of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters