SOYBEAN OIL HYDROGENATION USING HYDROGEN STORAGE ALLOY .3. NOVEL METHOD OF EDIBLE OIL HYDROGENATION

Soybean oil hydrogenation using hydrogen storage alloys has been studi ed on purpose to utilize their catalytic activity and hydrogen desorbe d from them. Hydrogenation of soybean oil was carried out in a 1 l dea d-end type reactor. Before starting hydrogenation, hydrogen was absorb ed into the alloy in the reactor maintained at 10 degrees C followed b y injection of soybean oil into the reactor. Hydrogen storage alloys w ere evaluated for the catalytic activity and selectivity. Of hydrogen storage alloys employed in this study, LaNi5 group of which crystal sy stem was hexagonal promoted hydrogenation. Conventional Ni catalyst ad ded to LaNi5 accelerated the hydrogenation. Pulverization of the alloy s by repeating absorption and desorption of hydrogen increased the act ive sites on them, resulted in their enhanced catalytic activity. Hydr ogen storage alloys in soybean oil re-absorbed hydrogen sufficiently t o participate subsequent hydrogenation, which indicated that the alloy s were feasible for recycling use. Among LaNi5 group, LaNi4.0 Al-1.0 p romoted significantly non-selective hydrogenation, therefore the prepa red oil contained a low level of trans-acid and its Solid fat content was less dependent on temperature.