-Response surface methodology was used to design and evaluate the experimental variables for Pd-B/γ-Al 2 O 3 catalyst preparation. The catalyst was prepared by impregnation and chemical reduction. Thirteen different samples of the catalyst were prepared at different KOH concentrations and annealed at various temperatures, before applying them in palm oil hydrogenation. Hydrogenation was performed on a 0.12% Pd-B/γ-Al 2 O 3 catalyst at a temperature of 393 K, hydrogen pressure of 500 kPa and agitation of 500 rpm for 1 h. The iodine value (IV) and trans fatty acids (TFAs) content responses were measured for each hydrogenated palm oil sample. The predicted models were verified for both responses and found to be statistically adequate. An optimization study was performed on the catalyst preparation variables for minimizing both IV and TFAs content. The Pd-B/γ-Al 2 O 3 prepared under optimized conditions exhibited 47% higher conversion and 22% lower trans-isomerization selectivity than Escat 1241 commercial catalyst. The Pd-B/γ-Al 2 O 3 catalyst preparation variables have a noticeable effect on palm oil hydrogenation conversion and trans-isomerization selectivity.
Hydrogenation of vegetable oils is a heterogeneous process where the process factors influence the conversion and selectivity. A Statistical study was performed on a sunflower oil (SFO) hydrogenation process using Pd-B/g-Al 2 O 3 catalyst to study the effect of the process factors, including temperature, hydrogen pressure, agitation, catalyst dose and reaction time on the iodine value and trans fatty acid content of hydrogenated SFO. It was found that each factor has a noticeable effect on the iodine value and trans fatty acid content of hydrogenated SFO. The study was also aimed to find out the optimum values for the hydrogenation factors which are capable to decline the IV to 70 (g iodine per 100 g oil) as well as produce a minimum trans fatty acid content of the hydrogenated SFO. The optimum values were found to be 431 K, 1000 kPa, 1000 kPa, 0.29 % and 42.2 min for the temperature, hydrogen pressure, agitation, catalyst dose and reaction time respectively.
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