TITLE:
Production of mono-, di-, and triglycerides from waste fatty acids through esterification with glycerol
AUTHORS:
N. A. Mostafa, Ashraf Maher, Wael Abdelmoez
KEYWORDS:
Esterification; Fatty Acids; Glycerol; Monoglycerides; Diglycerides; Zinc chloride; Triglycerides
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology,
Vol.4 No.9,
September
3,
2013
ABSTRACT:
Currently monoglyceride and diglyceride are representing
important products, as they have numerous applications such as modifying agents
in food and pharmaceutical industries. In this work, the production of these economically
value added compounds by estrifying the fatty acids with the glycerol is
presented. Effects of various reaction parameters were optimized to obtain high yield of mono, di- and triglycerids. The
effects of temperature (180℃ to 260℃), ZnCl2 catalyst
concentration (0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%), glycerol to fatty acids molar ratio (1:1,
1:2, 1:3, 3:1), agitation speeds (200, 500, 1000 rpm), type of reaction system
(opened and closed) and type of fatty acids including oleic and palmatic acids
on esterification efficiency of fatty acids were investigated. The optimum
conditions of esterification reaction were at temperature 195℃, molar ratio
1:1, amount of catalyst 0.3% Zncl2, and agitation 500 rpm. Analysis
of yield showed that at the optimum conditions mondi and triglycerids were
produced in high purity, up to 99%. Infrared spectroscopy IR and thin layer
chromatograph TLC proved that the final product contains mono, di- and
triglycerides.