ELECTROCATALYTIC PROCESS FOR THE HYDROGENATION OF EDIBLE AND NON-EDIBLE OILS AND FATTY ACIDS

摘要

An electrocatalytic process for hydrogenating an unsaturated fatty acid, triglyceride, or mixtures thereof as an oil or fat is carried out using a high surface area, low hydrogen overvoltage catalytic material used as the cathode. The solution or dispersion used as the electrolyte contains the oil and/or fat, water and/or an organic solvent (e.g. t-butanol), a supporting electrolyte salt (e.g., sodium p-toluenesulfonate, tetraethylammonium p-toluenesulfonate, and sodium or potassium phosphate monobasic), and optionally an emulsifying agent. Typical catalytic cathodes include a granular or powdered Raney metal (e.g., Raney nickel or copper) or an alloy thereof (e.g., Raney nickel-molybdenum), or platinum black, ruthenium black, or finely divided carbon powder containing a precious metal catalyst (e.g. platinum, palladium, or ruthenium). A novel partially hydrogenated oil or fat product is obtained when the above process is carried out at temperatures less than 75 °C. The product is characterized by a trans isomer content lower than that of a hydrogenated product which is prepared by a high temperature, chemical catalytic process. The specific trans isomer selectivity index was 0.36 or less.