Activity and selectivity of nickel supported on natural silicates for hydrogenation of soybean oil

Abstract

The activity and selectivity for hydrogenation of soybean oil using nickel on natural silicates have been studied. The catalysts were 10%Ni on ball clay, china clay, diatomite and kieselghur. The effects of temperature, hydrogen pressure, reaction time, and concentration of catalyst on the hydrogenation process were studied. The hydrogenation reaction was carried out at 180 ℃, 200 psig. hydrogen pressure, 3 hours reaction time, 600 rpm. agitation speed, and catalyst concentration of 0.05% Ni by weight of oil. It was found that the 10% Ni on ball clay catalyst provided the highest activity while the 10% Ni on china clay catalyst provided the highest selectivity. The suitable conditions in the production of oleic acid using 10% Ni on ball clay catalyst was the reaction temperature at 150 ℃, 150 psig. hydrogen pressure, 2 hours reaction time, 600 rpm. agitation speed, with catalyst concentration of 0.05% Ni by weight of oil. The hydrogenated oil, which obtained from this condition, had 108.60 of iodine value and consisted of 10.75% palmitic acid, 16.11% stearic acid, 69.93% oleic acid, 2.84% linoleic acid, and 0.38% linolenic acid by weight of oil. The hydrogenation reaction using 10% Ni on ball clay provided the highest amount of oleic acid in the hydrogenated products compared to other catalysts under the same condition. Therefore, the 10%Ni on ball clay catalyst had the best activity and selectivity at this condition. The selective hydrogenation of soybean oil was not only dependent on solid support, but it was also dependent on the reaction condition.