KINETICS OF CATALYTIC TRANSFER HYDROGENATION OF SOYBEAN OIL

The hydrogenation of soybean oil was studied using aqueous sodium formate solution and a palladium on carbon catalyst. All the hydrogenation reactions considered were found to obey first-order kinetics with respect to the fatty acids. Kinetic constants, the pre-exponential factor and the activation energy were determined experimentally under conditions in which the mass transfer resistance was eliminated by intensive stirring and by the use of stabilizing agents. The selectivity of the reactions changed with temperature, and by appropriate choice of the experimental conditions an acceptable oil modification could be achieved with the product containing less than 1% of linolenic acid and a high content of linoleic acid. Increase in the stearic acid concentration could be avoided entirely.