Hydrogenation of rubber seed oil

Abstract

The study of the hydrogenation of rubber seed oil under varying reaction conditions using nickel catalyst produced light yellow-colored waxes which were semisolid to solid. When the waxes were melted, they were transparent, clear and yellow color. The nickel catalyst Nysel HK-4 which was the best commercial catalyst was used for study the hydrogenation rate. The order of the reaction was the first order reaction and the global reaction rate constants were proportional to the reaction temperature, hydrogen pressure, catalyst concentration and agitation speed. The apparent activation energy at 150 psig, 0.2% Ni in oil, 700 rpm and the temperature range from 120℃ to 180℃ was 14.5 kcal/mole. The optimum operating condition was reaction temperature of 180℃, hydrogen pressure not less than 120 psig, catalyst concentration of 0.2% Ni in oil and agitation of 700 rpm. The comparison of the in-house catalysts with the nickel catalyst Nysel HK-4, the hydrogenation rate of the 41.8% Ni precipitated catalyst and the 9.3% Ni on alumina impregnated catalyst were slower than that which occurred at the same time of the Nysel HK-4 catalyst under the condition of 160℃, 150 psig, 0.2% Ni in oil and 700 rpm.