Influence of some parameters on synthesis processes of triethyl ammonium oleate and triethyl ammonium stearate

Two ionic liquids named triethyl ammonium oleate ([TEA][Oleate] and triethyl ammonium stearate ([TEA][Stearate]) were synthesized from triethyl amine and oleic/stearic acids in water and in ethanol solvents. The synthesized ionic liquids were characterized by FT-IR and NMR spectra to confirm their structure. The influence of some parameters such as structure of ionic liquid anion, solvent, reaction time, reaction temperature, and acid/amine molar ratio on the synthesis processes of triethyl ammonium oleate and triethyl ammonium stearate was investigated. Ethanol was found suitable as a solvent for these processes because it dissolves formed ionic liquids but does not dissolve co-product KCl. In order to shift the equilibrium to increase the ionic liquid yields, an access amount of acids was used. Stearate-based ionic liquid should be synthesized at higher a temperature and longer time than oleic-based ionic liquids.