In situ hydrolysis for dihydroxystearic acid production from catalytic epoxidation of oleic acid

Abstract Concern regarding the setback of dependency on using fossil fuels as the main resources as the precursor for many derivatives had drawn attention to further study the production of dihydroxystearic acid (DHSA) by in situ hydrolysis of epoxidized oleic acid. Epoxidized oleic acid was produced by using in situ formed performic acid. Performic acid was formed by mixing formic acid as the oxygen carrier with hydrogen peroxide as the oxygen donor. The Taguchi method had proposed that optimum parameter for DHSA production is hydrogen peroxide/oleic acid unsaturation molar ratio of 1.5:1, formic acid/oleic acid unsaturation molar ratio of 0.5, reaction temperature of 35°C, and agitation speed of 200 rpm. Based on the optimized parameters, the highest DHSA hydroxyl value of 267 mg KOH/g was achieved. Additionally, a mathematical model was developed using MATLAB software, employing the fourth‐order Runge–Kutta method and simulated annealing optimization to accurately describe the kinetic behaviour of the reaction. The numerical simulations were performed using a genetic algorithm, and the results showed good agreement between the simulation and experimental data, which validates the kinetic model.