Continuous transmethylation of palm oil in an organic solvent

Abstract

Palm oil was transmethylated continuously at 70°C in an organic solvent with sodium methoxide as a catalyst. The optimum ratio of toluene to palm oil is 1∶1 (v/v). When the methanol‐to‐oil molar ratio was 13∶1, transmethylation was 96% complete within 60 seconds. At higher molar ratio (17∶1), transmethylation was 99% complete in 15 seconds. For lower molar ratios of methanol‐to‐oil (9∶1 and 5.8∶1), yields of palm oil methyl ester (POME) were 84 and 58%, respectively. Benzene was also a good solvent for transmethylation, but the yield of POME was slightly lower than toluene. Tetrahydrofuran did not accelerate transmethylation.