Synthesis of edible vegetable oils enriched with healthy 1,3-diglycerides using homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis

DI COSIMO, JUANA ISABEL; DOSSO, LIZA AINALEN; LUGGREN, PABLO JORGE

San Diego

Congreso; 17th INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON CATALYSIS; 2020

International Association of Catalysis Societies

Edible vegetable oils in which part of their triglycerides (TAG) are substituted with 1,3-diglycerides (1,3-DAG) have been shown to be healthier for human consumption than the original oils. It seems that the human metabolism of 1,3-DAG occurs through a distinct pathway with less probability of being deposited as fat in the body tissues. To obtain these enriched oils, conversion of TAG into DAG was carried out by glycerolysis using either commercial crude or refined glycerol (Gly). The effect of increasing the reaction temperature on the glyceride content of both catalytic processes was studied. The residual alkali cations of inexpensive crude Gly homogeneously promote the reaction whereas MgO was used with refined Gly to carry out the glycerolysis under heterogeneously catalyzed conditions. For the latter, the catalyst basicity requirements were investigated. By changing the solid synthesis conditions, we tuned the solid textural and basic properties and identified the chemical nature of the MgO base sites participating in the reaction kinetics.