Abstract
In this study, sulfated tin (IV) oxide solid acid catalyst was prepared for the epoxidation of Argemone mexicana oil (AMO) with peroxyacetic acid formed in-situ. The catalyst was synthesized using the chemical co-precipitation method and characterized. The effects of various epoxidation parameters on ethylenic double bond conversion (%) and oxygen ring content were analyzed. The maximum ethylenic double bond conversion of 95.5% and epoxy oxygen content of 6.25 was found at the molar ratio of AMO to 30% of H(2)O(2) = 1:2.5, molar ratio of AMO to acetic acid = 1:1.5, catalyst concentration = 12.5%, and reaction temperature = 70 °C at reaction time = 6 h. The kinetic and thermodynamic features of the epoxidation of AMO were also analyzed with appropriate models. The results of the kinetic study of the epoxidation reaction followed pseudo first order with the activation energy = 0.47.03 kJ/mol. Moreover, the thermodynamic constants of epoxidation of AMO were found as ΔH = 44.18 kJ/mol, ΔS = -137.91 Jmol(-1)k(-1)) and ΔG = 91.12 kJ/mol. The epoxidized product of AMO was further analyzed using FTIR, (1)H NMR, and (13)C NMR. The results of these analyses confirmed the successful conversion of the ethylenic double bond in the AMO to EAMO.