SYNTHESIS OF VANADYL-SALEN AND VANADYL-SALOPHEN COMPLEXES FOR EPOXIDATION CATALYSTS OF PALM OIL

• Main Author: Hasanah, Amalia
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Subjects: Kimia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/82814
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Palm oil is one of Indonesia’s most abundant natural resources. Palm oil is applied to various industries, e. g, food, medicine, cosmetics, and chemicals. Epoxidized palm oil (EPO) can be utilized as a sustainable alternative to phthalate plasticizers in polymer industries. Phthalates have been restricted in Europe and the United States due to their toxic properties. EPO is produced from the oxidation of palm oil with H2O2 and mineral acids in organic solvents. However, the use of H2O2 in the reaction releases heat rapidly and gave separation issues. Tertiary-butyl hydrogen peroxide (TBHP) is an alternative to H2O2. In this research, vanadium complexes with salen and salophen ligands were used as prospective catalysts. These ligands were synthesized from benzaldehydes and amines. VO(acac)2 was used as the vanadium precursor. The complexes were characterized by P-XRD, FTIR, MSB, and MS. The epoxidation reaction was conducted by varying the catalyst concentration, TBHP amount, reaction time, and temperature. The epoxidation reactions were analyzed by 1H-NMR spectrometry. Optimal conditions were achieved at 80 °C for 5 h, using 0.2 mol% of VO(Sal-2a) and 3 meq TBHP. EPO was achieved up to 79%, with turnover number (TON) of 397, and turnover frequency (TOF) of 79 h?1. The epoxidation with VO(Sal-2a) followed a pseudo-second order kinetics with an activation energy (Ea) of 76 kJ mol?1, activation enthalpy (?????‡) of 73 kJ mol?1, activation entropy (?????‡) of -42 J.mol?1.K?1, and activation Gibbs free energy (?????‡) of 88 kJ mol?1.