Synthesis and characterization of polyols made from poultry fat

Resumen

Objective: Identify the optimal conditions of polyols synthesis from poultry fat by epoxidation and hydrolysis in situ.

Design/methodology/approach: Using a statistical design of response surface Box-Behnken type was evaluated the effect of the factors temperature (60, 70 and 80 °C), catalyst (1, 2 and 3 % w / w), molar ratio double bonds:acetic acid (1: 1, 1: 1.5 and 1: 2) and time (4, 6 and 8 h), on the acid index of polyols synthesized.

Results: The FTIR spectra indicated that in mild reaction conditions epoxide groups (827 cm^-1) are generated while in severe reaction conditions the formation of OH groups is favored. Therefore, the optimal conditions for the generation of polyol were: 80 °C, 3 % w/w catalyst (H₂SO₄), molar ratio double bonds:acetic acid 1:2 and reaction time of 8 h, obtaining a maximum percentage of 78% acidity index, and hydroxyl number of 74 mg KOH/g.

Limitations on study/implications: The removal of the acid medium and water in the reaction was a challenge in polyols with higher acidity index.

Findings/conclusions: The method used of fat extraction, allows to obtain raw material that meets the characteristics to perform the reaction of epoxidation and hydrolysis in a single step to obtain polyol. The most severe conditions of temperature, catalyst concentration, molar ratio of double bonds: acetic acid and reaction time, allowed to obtain the greatest amount of polyol from poultry fat.