Combined Esterification and Short‐Path Distillation for High‐Purity Pentaerythritol Ester from Palm Kernel for Biolubricants

Abstract

The development of specialty esters using palm-based materials through a solventless and autocatalytic method was investigated. The C 8− C 10 fatty-acid esters of pentaerythritol are the bases for high-performance lubricants. In the present study, an easy and efficient method was developed using an esterification process coupled with short-path distillation to produce high-purity pentaerythritol ester (PEE) for the more complete removal of acid value (AV) in the end products. The compositions of the distilled PEE have the highest 96% w/w % tetraester at an evaporator temperature of 200-225 C and a vacuum pressure of 0.05 mbar to retain a low AV of less than 1 mg KOH g −1 and a low hydroxyl value. The rate of heating at 30 C h −1 was found to be crucial in obtaining high-purity tetraester. According to Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) 301F, PEE is readily biodegradable and 100% biodegradability can be achieved in less than 9 days. PEE produced has shown lubricant properties and can be used as a base stock for biolubricant composition.Keywords Environment Á Biolubricant Á Pentaerythritol ester Á Tetraester J Am Oil Chem Soc (2018) 95: 1421-1429.

OIL PALM ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE IN MALAYSIA AND R&D PROGRESS IN 2018

“…This process can aid the palm oil mills in meeting the regulation limits set by the Department of Environment. POME was also evaluated as a carbon source for microalgae growth (Idris et al, 2018). The benefit from doing this is that the POME gets treated and the cost of algae cultivation is reduced.…”

“…The study showed that cultivation of algae in POME has managed to reduce the PO 4 , NO 3 , NO 2 and the COD in POME. Based on the fatty acid profile, the POME cultivated microalgae also showed good potential to be used as biodiesel (Idris et al, 2018).…”

“…Consumption of diets containing repeatedly heated vegetable oils in general was found to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease due to the deterioration of cardiovascular protective benefits of vegetable oils and the generation of volatile and non-volatile degradation products from oxidation, hydrolysis and polymerisation, especially during the deep frying of food (Ganesan et al, 2018). A study on the effect of consuming heated oils with or without dietary cholesterol on atherosclerosis development in a rabbit model by Che Idris et al (2018) found that the formation of aortic lesions in rabbits fed with corn oil was higher compared to those fed with palm olein. The authors concluded that the atheroprotective effects of palm olein could be attributed to the higher content of vitamin E which confers the oil antioxidant protection during heat treatments.…”

Ultra‐high performance supercritical fluid chromatography combined with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry for the characterization of pentaerythritol fatty acid esters

“…Usually, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy are convenient techniques used to make a quick analysis of pentaerythritol esters . However, these two methods only provide functional group information, and the composition of mixed esters could not be determined.…”

“…Usually, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy are convenient techniques used to make a quick analysis of pentaerythritol esters. 4,5 However, these two methods only provide functional group information, and the composition of mixed esters could not be determined. To characterize the ingredients of pentaerythritol esters, separation, and qualitative and quantitative analysis using chromatography and mass spectrometry (MS) are required.…”