Mohamad Akmal Abdul Rahim
Increasing the yield of the epoxidation of vegetable oil.
Email: m.a.abdul-rahim2@ncl.ac.uk
Project title
Intensification of epoxidation of vegetable oil
Supervisors
Project description
We use epoxidised triglycerides as a plasticiser and stabiliser for plastic. They are ingredients of lubricants and polyols in polyurethane production.
This renewable material has become an important feedstock for the chemical industry. It replaces petroleum-derived products. It is cheap and environmentally friendly. It addresses concerns about greener technology.
We currently carry out the epoxidation of vegetable oils by reacting the double bonds of oils with peracetic acid generated in situ in a stirred-tank reactor (STR). The reaction is highly exothermic. Thus, the heat removal capacity of the equipment limits the reaction. The gradual addition of hydrogen peroxide controls the temperature. This is due to safety concerns. The process needs a long reaction time of more than 8 hours. It is unable to achieve a high yield of oxirane ring formation.
In this study, I carried out the epoxidation of rapeseed oil in an STR and jacketed mesoscale oscillatory baffled reactor (meso-OBR). I studied the reaction on a batch scale, and then transferred to a continuous reaction in meso-OBR.
Publications
- Abdul Rahim MA, Phan AN, Harvey AP. Intensification of Epoxidation of Vegetable Oils. Postgraduate Research Conference, 24 June 2019, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
- Adamu A, Abdul Rahim MA, Hockaday J, Enmak P. Process Intensification – 3D printing. Science, Agriculture & Engineering (SAgE) PGR Conference – Making Connections, 5 July 2019, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
- Abdul Rahim MA, Phan AN, Harvey AP. Intensification of Epoxidation of Vegetable Oils using Mesoscale Oscillatory Baffled Reactor, Reactors, Scale-Up and Separations: Process intensification, integration and multifunctionality. 12 September 2019, Belgrave Square, London.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical-Polymer) with Honours