The batch production of trimethylolpropane ester from palm oil as lubricant
basestock was performed in 10 liters mini pilot batch reactor incorporated
with high vacuum pump. This study has examined the optimum operating
conditions in order to obtain the maximum level of production yield in a
minimum time or minimum cost.
The experiments were carried out to synthesize palm oil based
trimethylolpropane ester via chemical reactions in batch mode. The
experiments focused on the effects of variations in the 1) temperature, 2)
vacuum pressure, 3) molar ratio, 4) amount of catalyst and 5) speed of
agitation. The chemical compositions of samples were analyzed via gas chromatography. The final products were tested for their lubrication
properties such as TAN (Total Acid Number), kinematic viscosity, viscosity
index (VI), wear and friction test.
Approximately 5 liters of trimethylolpropane ester from palm oil containing
86 w/w% of triester was successfully synthesized in two hours of operation.
The optimal reaction conditions for mini pilot batch reactor were found to be
as follows; 1) temperature: 120°C, 2) pressure: 20 mbar, 3) molar ratio: 3.8:l
(POME to TMP), 4) catalyst: 0.9 w/w% 5) speed of agitation: 180 rpm.
The kinetics data obtained from the laboratory scale experiment was
successfully applied to the mini pilot batch reactor to estimate the yield of
triester. As a conclusion, the study has proven that the synthesis method to
produce trimethylolpropane ester from palm oil as a lubricant basestock
developed in the laboratory (one liter) can be scale up to a mini pilot batch
reactor (10 liters) with marginal effect on the reaction yield
