A novel reaction mechanism for the synthesis of coconut oil-derived biopolyol for rigid poly(urethane-urea) hybrid foam application

Coconut oil (CO) has become one of the most important renewable raw materials for polyol synthesis due to its abundance and low price. However, the saturated chemical structure of CO limits its capability for functionalization. In this study, a novel reaction mechanism via the sequential glycerolysis and amidation of CO triglycerides produced an amine-based polyol (p-CDEA). The synthesized biopolyol has a relatively higher hydroxyl value of 361 mg KOH per g relative to previously reported CO-based polyols with values ranging from 270-333 mg KOH per g. This primary hydroxyl-rich p-CDEA was used directly as a sole B-side polyol component in a polyurethane-forming reaction, without further purification. Results showed that a high-performance poly(urethane-urea) (PUA) hybrid foam was successfully produced. It has a compressive strength of 226 kPa and thermal conductivity of 23.2 mW (m^-1 K^-1), classified as type 1 for a rigid structural sandwich panel core and type 2 for rigid thermal insulation foam applications according to ASTM standards. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was performed to characterize the chemical features of the polyols and foams. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was also performed to evaluate the morphological structures of the synthesized foams. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were conducted to investigate the foam's thermal characteristics. Thus far, this work is the first to report a novel and effective reaction mechanism for the synthesis of a highly functional CO-derived polyol and the first CO-based polyol with no petroleum-based replacement that may serve as raw material for rigid PUA foam production. PUA hybrid foams are potential insulation and structural materials. This study further provided a compelling case for enhanced sustainability of p-CDEA PUA hybrid foam against petroleum-based polyurethane.

One-Pot Solvent-Free Synthesis of N,N-Bis(2-Hydroxyethyl) Alkylamide from Triglycerides Using Zinc-Doped Calcium Oxide Nanospheroids as a Heterogeneous Catalyst

N,N-Bis(2-hydroxyethyl) alkylamide or fatty acid diethanolamides (FADs) were prepared from a variety of triglycerides using diethanolamine in the presence of different transition metal-doped CaO nanocrystalline heterogeneous catalysts. The Zn-doped Cao nanospheroids were found to be the most efficient heterogeneous catalyst, with complete conversion of natural triglycerides to fatty acid diethanolamide in 30 min at 90 °C. The Zn/CaO nanoparticles were recyclable for up to six reaction cycles and showed complete conversion even at room temperature. The amidation reaction of natural triglycerides was found to follow the pseudo-first-order kinetic model, and the first-order rate constant was calculated as 0.171 min–1 for jatropha oil aminolysis. The activation energy (Ea) and pre-exponential factor (A) for the same reaction were found to be 47.8 kJ mol–1 and 4.75 X 108 min-1, respectively.

Selective Transformations of Triglycerides into Fatty Amines, Amides, and Nitriles by using Heterogeneous Catalysis

The use of triglycerides as an important class of biomass is an effective strategy to realize a more sustainable society. Herein, three heterogeneous catalytic methods are reported for the selective one-pot transformation of triglycerides into value-added chemicals: i) the reductive amination of triglycerides into fatty amines with aqueous NH₃ under H₂ promoted by ZrO₂ -supported Pt clusters; ii) the amidation of triglycerides under gaseous NH₃ catalyzed by high-silica H-beta (Hβ) zeolite at 180 °C; iii) the Hβ-promoted synthesis of nitriles from triglycerides and gaseous NH₃ at 220 °C. These methods are widely applicable to the transformation of various triglycerides (C₄ -C₁₈ skeletons) into the corresponding amines, amides, and nitriles.

Fatty Amides from Crude Rice Bran Oil as Green Corrosion Inhibitors

Due to its high oil content, this research proposes the use of an agroindustrial byproduct (rice bran) as a sustainable option for the synthesis of corrosion inhibitors. From the crude rice bran oil, the synthesis of fatty amide-type corrosion inhibitors was carried out. The corrosion inhibitory capacity of the fatty amides was evaluated on an API X-70 steel using electrochemical techniques such as real-time corrosion monitoring and potentiodynamic polarization curves. As a corrosive medium, a CO2-saturated solution (3.5% NaCl) was used at three temperatures (30, 50, and 70°C) and different concentrations of inhibitor (0, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 ppm). The results demonstrate that the sustainable use of agroindustrial byproducts is a good alternative to the synthesis of environmentally friendly inhibitors with high corrosion inhibition efficiencies.

Aminolysis of triglycerides using nanocrystalline nickel doped CaO as an efficient solid catalyst

A Ni/CaO catalyst is able to catalyze (A) aminolysis as well as (B) transesterification reactions.