Chemical Oxidation
In situ chemical reaction pathways generate organic peroxy acids to convert unsaturated fatty acid double bonds into oxirane rings. Utilization of performic acid epoxidation synthesizes epoxidized vegetable oils from renewable plant oils for use as bio-based plasticizers and barrier coatings in paperboard converting. Formic acid reacts with hydrogen peroxide to form performic acid, which subsequently transfers oxygen across carbon-carbon double bonds in fatty acid chains.
Scope boundaries restrict the process to olefinic epoxidation reactions, excluding direct ring-opening hydrolysis.
Reaction Mechanism
Reaction kinetics require precise control of hydrogen peroxide addition rates and acid catalyst concentrations to maximize oxirane yield while preventing ring-opening side reactions. Applying performic acid epoxidation yields high epoxy oxygen content without requiring costly external organic solvents. Epoxidized soybean oil and epoxidized linseed oil produced through this route exhibit high thermal stability and low volatility, making them ideal plasticizers for poly-vinyl chloride film laminates and barrier coatings on paperboard.
Exothermic heat generation during reaction steps demands efficient reactor cooling to mitigate thermal runaway risks. Purified epoxidized oils improve flexibility and water resistance in coated paperboard applications.
Polymer Application
Bio-based epoxidized oils serve as functional additives in water-dispersed polymer formulations applied to paper packaging. Products derived from performic acid epoxidation enhance film flexibility and water repellant performance on folding cartonboard. Renewable chemical building blocks support sustainable packaging material formulations.
