Hidrogenación de Aceite de Girasol en Condiciones Trifásicas y Homogéneas con Propano Supercrítico

CRISTIAN M. PIQUERAS; MARÍA B. FERNÁNDEZ; GABRIELA TONETTO; SUSANA BOTTINI; DANIEL E. DAMIANI

Foz de Iguazú, Brasil

Congreso; XIII Congreso Brasilero de Catálisis- III Congreso de Catálisis del MERCOSUR; 2005

  The traditional oil hydrogenation is a heterogeneous catalytic process; it is carried out among gas, liquid and solid phases.  This reaction presents low velocity and high production of trans isomers, due to the high mass transfer resistance in the liquid and the low solubility of the hydrogen (H2) in the substrate. By adding of a supercritical solvent, able to maintain in solution a substratum and a permanent gas, it is possible to carry out a hydrogenation in an homogeneous phase.  In this way, solubility restrictions and mass transfer are eliminated, achieving a better selectivity and higher reaction velocities.  Utilizing supercritical propane and a commercial catalyst of Ni (Nysosel 222) reaction velocities of two orders of magnitude higher were obtained. Also an 85% of decrease in the trans isomers production compared with the three-phase process was observed.  The results with a Pd supported on a gamma Al2O3 catalyst showed greater velocities than with Ni, and an lower selectivity.  The product distribution indicates clearly the elimination of the mass transfer problems.