Effect of homogeneous catalysts on ring opening reactions of epoxidized cooking oils

This paper shows two ways of efficiency improvement of bio-polyol synthesis to generate more environmental and economic benefits. The application of waste oil in the synthesis of plastic components allows recycling of such municipal waste and is consistent with the principles of Green and Sustainable Chemistry. The economic aspects are associated with analyzing the influence of different catalysts on the time and temperature of ring opening reactions as well as the costs of the catalysts used in this process. This work presents the impact of three types of catalysts, (sulfuric acid, acid diethyl ether complex and tetrafluoroboric acid solution in water) on the ring opening reactions of epoxidized cooking oils and the properties of the final bio-polyols. The application of sulfuric acid in this experiment required a much higher temperature than in the case of the catalysts based on tetrafluoroboric acid and a longer reaction time. The shortest reaction time was achieved using tetrafluoroboric acid diethyl ether complex but the costs of this catalyst limit its possible application. However, similar products were obtained when using a tetrafluoroboric acid solution in water and the costs of this catalyst are acceptable for industrial applications. The properties of the bio-polyols and the tendency for the occurrence of the oligomerization reaction depended on the type of the catalysts used and were confirmed by the means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, MALDI-TOF as well as by viscosity changes. It was concluded that the type of the catalyst and its concentration have a major impact on the physical and chemical properties of the resultant bio-polyols.