CRACKING OF PALM OIL TO PRODUCE OLEOCHEMICALS

The FTIR and GC - MS tests are necessary for identification of oleochemicals produced via cracking. In this research, thermal cracking (without catalyst) and catalytic cracking of palm oil were carried out in a batch reactor. The thermal cracking was performed at temperatures of 700 o C to 900 o C at a time of 30 to 150 minutes while the catalytic cracking was done at temperatures of 100 o C to 400 o C, time of 30 to 150 minutes and catalyst weight of 10 to 50 grams. The evaluation of products involved FTIR, GC - MS, and Effects of process parameters (Temperature, Time and catalyst weight) on acid value, density and kinematic viscosity. Viscosity, acid value and density of the liquid condensates fall within the accepted limit of the oleochemical standard, and this showed that triglyceride molecules in the palm oil were broken down to light molecules. The research also showed that Catalytic cracking of palm oil (at a much lower temperature levels) with the aid of clay cata lyst yielded better oleochemicals to that obtained from thermal cracking of oil at a very high temperature. This work showed that it is a good process that can be used industrially in obtaining oleochemicals that can serve for different purposes