Kinetics for oxidation of squalene

The oxidation reaction of squalene is investigated using a bubble column re actor under the various conditions. For oxidation, two stages, which are an induction period with a slow increase in hydroperoxide and an accelerated period with rapid increase, are observed. The peroxide concentration increa ses with the progress of the oxidation and reaches a maximum value in the l ast part of the accelerated period, and then decreases again due to the dec omposition of peroxide. The peroxide produced is analyzed by a HPLC system equipped with chemiluminescence and UV/VIS detectors. The main component of the decomposition of peroxide was confirmed to be carbonyl compounds based on the results of the hydroxylamine hydrochloride titration, IR,C-13-NMR a nd LC-MS analyses. The formation rate equation of peroxide is derived from the chain reaction model of lipid radical and the experimental results were analyzed using the rate equation. The formation rate of the peroxide is in dependent on the peroxide concentration in the induction period, and is exp ressed by the first order for the peroxide concentration in the accelerated period.