Monoglyceride Synthesis from Methyl Ester in a Semibatch Reactor

Abstract

The research is the study of transesterifieation of methyl ester and glycerine, both derived from palm stearin, for monoglyceride synthesis in a semibatch reactor, Glycerine was fed to the reactor and reacted with methyl ester which was initially filled inside the reactor, Three factors namely temperature. Catalyst percentage and feed rate of glycerine were studied and each factor has two levels as follow: temperature at 180ºC. 0.5% potassium hydroxide and feed rate of 1 mole per 60 minutes. Total and alpha monoglyceride content in the product were found to be 49.9 and 40.2% by weight respectively. The total and alpha monoglyceride content of the product from reaction that carried out at 210ºC were in the range of 47-50% and 39-40% by weight that the total and alpha monoglyceride content from reaction that carried out at 180ºC were in the range of 39-43% and 35-37% by weight, respectively