Biosynthesis of sulfonated carbon catalyst from carbohydrate polymer derivatives for epoxidation of Croton macrostachyus seed oil

Abstract

In the present study, biosynthesis of sulfonated carbon acid catalyst from brewery spent grain through carbonation process followed by sulphonation method used for production of epoxy oil from Croton macrostachyus seed oil in presence of acetic acid as oxygen carrier and hydrogen peroxide as oxygen donor in the epoxidation reaction. Thermogravimetric, X-ray diffractometer, elemental analysis, scanning electron microscope, and FT-IR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) were used to characterized the synthesized sulfonated carbon catalyst. The result confirmed the catalyst can be used effectively for epoxidation of Croton macrostachyus seed oil. The influence of four independent variables for epoxidation reaction on the selectivity of epoxy was analyzed by response surface methodology. The maximum relative selectivity of 99.84% was obtained at a 65 °C reaction temperature of, 2:1 ratio of hydrogen peroxide to double bond of oil, 4% of sulfonated carbon acid catalyst, and 5 h of epoxidation reaction time. 1HNMR spectra showed the presence of epoxide ring appeared in range of 2.75–2.98 ppm and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy spectra detected epoxy ring group at wave number of 828.5 and 1237–1251 cm−1 . Thus, epoxidized Croton macrostachyus seed oil is renewable material that can be replaces petrochemical resources.

Keywords

• Brewery spent grain
• Croton macrostachyus seed oil
• Carbon biochar
• Sulfonated carbon acid catalyst
• Epoxidation reaction