No abstract

A new catalyst, ruthenium-tin-alumina is found to selectively hydrogenate oleic acid to 9-octadecen-l-ol (ohyl + elaidyl alcohol) at low pressure with high yield. Catalyst preparation methods, catalyst raw materials and activation conditions have a significant effect on the activity of the catalyst. The optimum atomic ratio of ruthenium to tin is about 1:2. Catalyst prepared by an improved sol, el method shows higher activity and selectivity than catalysts prepared by impregnation and coprecipitation methods. Chloride is found to have a negative effect on catalytic activity. The best catalyst is prepared from chloride-free ruthenium and tin raw materials. Under the optimum reaction conditions of 250°C and 5.6 MPa, the selectivities for 9~Y~adecen-l-ol and total alcohol (9~ctadecen-l~l + stearyl alcohol) formation are 80.9% and 97%, respectively, at a conversion of 81.3%. KEY WORDS: 9-Octadecen-l-al, oleie acid, ruthenium-tin-alumina catalyst, selective hydrogenation, sol-gel method.

In direct screw pressing, kernels must undergo seed preparation steps of size reduction, flaking and steam conditioning prior to mechanical extraction. Mechanical wear and tear, maintenance expenses and electricity are the major costs. The direct solvent extraction process is used in larger plants. Production cost depends mainly on solvent loss and energy used in solvent recovery and pelletizing. However, oil recovery is more complete than in screw pressing. A third processing method uses pre‐pressing followed by solvent extraction. The choice of process or machinery depends on capital investment, production cost, oil recovery and its value. Whether the higher investment and production cost incurred in solvent extraction is offset by the higher oil extraction rate needs to be determined. Strict quality control right from fruit processing to kernel extraction is necessary to ensure production of good quality oil and by‐products. Malaysian palm kernel oil has proven to be of consistent quality, with narrow ranges in chemical characteristics. The palm kernel cake and pellets are important ingredients for animal feed.

Seven samples of domestic and imported Malaysian tub margarines were analyzed for their fatty acid and triglyceride (carbon number) composition, solid fat content, dropping and softening points, crystallization temperature, polymorphic form, color, and textural attributes. Domestic margarines were formulated from palm oil or palm olein and palm kernel oil with a liquid oil but no hydrogenated oils. Two imported products contained hydrogenated palm oil product, which resulted in a high level of lY crystals, whereas the domestic nonhydrogenated products contained more 13 than 13' crystals. Crystal habit was related to the fatty acid and triglyceride composition of the high-melting glycerides. Domestic products were firmer in texture, probably because they were formulated to be sold in a tropical climate. JAOCS 73, 995-1001 (1996).

A rapid Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic technique coupled with fixed NaCl cell (1 mm pathlength) was developed to measure peroxide value (PV) in crude palm oil (CPO) and crude palm kernel oil (CPKO). Calibration standards were prepared by oxidizing CPO in a fermentor at 60C over a period of 24 h. A partial least squares (PLS) calibration model for predicting PV was developed based on the 3710–3210 cm‐1spectral region with reference to a single‐point baseline at 3710 cm‐1. The optimization of calibration factors was guided by the predicted residual error sum of squares (PRESS) test. The standard deviation (SD) of the calibration obtained was 0.46 PV over the range of 0.51–17.82 PV and the correlation coefficient (R2) was 0.998. The model was validated with an independent set of samples consisting of both laboratory and field samples. The overall SD for the validation set was sligthly higher (SD = 1.46 PV) with R2 of 0.989. Thus, it was demonstrated that PV measured by FTIR techniques was comparable to that obtained by the chemical method. The FTIR method has the