In this work, polyester polyols with high weight average molecular weight (M w ) (M w ＝10000-15000) were prepared from epoxidized palm olein (EPO o ) and a series of dicarboxylic acids (C 6 -C 12 ) at elevated temperature under non-catalyzed condition. The optimal reaction conditions were determined as 180 ℃ for 4 h. Longer carbon chain length of dicarboxylic acids was more reactive when reacted with EPO o . The physical appearance of the product was observed as liquid at room temperature. This palm oil-based polyester polyol is proposed as starting material for flexible polyurethane. For reaction monitoring purposes, FTIR was used while 1 H NMR analysis was carried out to characterize the important functional groups of the products. The effects of reaction time and temperature on the M w of the reaction mixture were also studied by GPC.

Problem statement: This study was carried out for the characterization of epoxidized and non-epoxidized fatty diethanolamides by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Gas Chromatography (GC). Approach: The fatty diethanolamides were synthesized by reacting 40% (w/w) of Epoxidized Palm Olein (EPO o) with 60% (w/w) Refined Bleached Deodorized Plam Kernel Olein (RBDPKO o) with Diethanolamine (DEA) at 110°C for 5 h. Results: The identities of the peaks were established by secondary standards that were derived from pure methyl esters. HPLC separated major non-epoxidized diethanolamide compounds, namely C 10:0 , C 12:0 , C 14:0 , C 16:O , C 18:1 and C 18:0 and the molecular weights of the compounds were dentified by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS). Conclusion: GC provided a more complete separation for the non-epoxidized diethanolamides, epoxidized diethanolamides, glycerol, Diethanolamine (DEA) and some minor compounds from the self-condensation of DEA and diethanolamides. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) elucidated the chemical structure of the epoxidized diethanolamides.