In situ hydrolysis of epoxidized oleic acid by catalytic epoxidation-peracids mechanism

The aim of this study to produce in situ hydrolysed dihydroxystrearic acid (DHSA) from epoxidized oleic acid (EOA). In this study, EOA was produced by using in situ formed performic acid. The physicochemical properties in situ hydrolysed DHSA were compared, the results indicates that the in situ hydrolysed DHSA has the potential to be commercialized because the synthesis route is simpler and high relative conversion to oxirane (85.7%). Then, a mathematical model was developed by using the numerical integration Runge Kutta 4th Order method. In this model, the method was integrated with genetic algorithm and particle swarm optimization to determine the process model that fit with the experimental data using MATLAB software. The results showed that there was good agreement between the simulation and experimental data, which validates the kinetic model. Overall, a high yield in situ hydrolysed DHSA was successfully produced from oleic acid by using optimum process parameters of epoxidation.