KINETICS OF CATALYTIC TRANSFER HYDROGENATION OF SOYBEAN OIL

The catalytic transfer hydrogenation of soybean oil was studied by usi ng various concentrations of sodium formate solutions, an emulsifier a nd paladium on a carbon catalyst. Sodium formate concentration and add ition of the emulsifier significantly affect the reaction rate because of their influence on the liquid/liquid interface. Under conditions i n which diffusion effects are eliminated, all reactions carried out in diluted sodium formate solution obey first-order kinetics with respec t to fatty acids. This allows control over the hydrogenation process o f soybean oil, needed to obtain partially hydrogenated oil containing about 1% linolenic acid and a relatively high level of linoleic acid w ith no increase in the stearic acid concentration.