Abstract

Introduction: Studies using sustainable and environmentally friendly raw materials are prominent among researchers due to rising environmental concerns.

Objective: This study aimed to produce epoxidized corn oil using in situ peracid formation, with Amberlite IR-120H as a catalyst, alongside acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide.

Materials and Methods: Expoxidized corn oil was produced in situ with acetic acid as an epoxidation agent and Amberlite as a catalyst. Results: The results showed that using a 50% concentration of hydrogen peroxide and a 0.5:1 molar ratio of hydrogen peroxide to corn oil achieved the highest Relative Conversion to Oxirane (RCO).

Discussion: In situ epoxidation resulted in a higher relative conversion to oxirane in reaction time (60 minutes).

Conclusion: Lastly, numerical simulations were executed employing a genetic algorithm, and the outcomes exhibited a noteworthy congruence between the simulated data and the empirical observations.

Keywords: Epoxidation, corn oil, oxirane ring, kinetic study.