KINETICS OF CATALYTIC TRANSFER HYDROGENATION OF SOYBEAN OIL

The catalytic transfer hydrogenation of soybean oil was studied by using various concentrations of sodium formate solutions, an emulsifier and paladium on a carbon catalyst. Sodium formate concentration and addition of the emulsifier significantly affect the reaction rate because of their influence on the liquid/liquid interface. Under conditions in which diffusion effects are eliminated, all reactions carried out in diluted sodium formate solution obey first-order kinetics with respect to fatty acids. This allows control over the hydrogenation process of soybean oil, needed to obtain partially hydrogenated oil containing about 1% linolenic acid and a relatively high level of linoleic acid with no increase in the stearic acid concentration.