Optimization Process for the Synthesis of Polyol-Oleates from Malaysian Unsaturated Palm Fatty Acid Distillate

Palm Fatty Acid Distillate (PFAD) is a cheap and valuable by-product of edible oil processing industries. Palm fatty acid distillates are generally used in the soap industry, animal feed industry, and as raw materials for oleochemical industries, in the manufacture of candles, cosmetics, and toiletries. Other applications include their use as food emulsifiers, an aid in rubber processing, in the Flavors and fragrance industries, and in pharmaceutical products. Vitamin E has been extracted commercially from PFAD for encapsulation. This study was carried out to determine the optimization conditions for the esterification of Malaysian PFAD with high-degree polyhydric alcohols (TMP, Di-TMP, PE, and Di-PE) in the presence of sulphuric acid as a catalyst based on four reaction parameters; reaction temperature (°C), reaction time (h), the effect of different alcohols, and molar ratios. The results show that a high conversion of 89% USFA-TMP ester was observed at 150°C, the optimal time for the esterification at 6 h to obtain 91% tri-ester yield, TMP ester produced the highest yield percentage (91%) and the optimum molar ratios were 3.5:1 (USFA: TMP), 4.5:1 (USFA-Di-TMP and USFA: PE) and 6.5:1 (USFA: Di-PE).