New metal catalysts active for thermal polymerization of vegetable oils

The catalytic activity of several low-toxic metal compounds was tested in the polymerization of soybean oil to produce biobased resins suitable to be used as binder in printing inks (offset). Soybean was polymerized in the absence and presence of different complexes of the type M(Carboxylate)2 (M = Ni, Fe, Co, Cu and Sn) and all compounds showed activity. The best result was obtained using Ni(II), when was observed an apparent kinematic constant up to 2.4 times higher than when in the absence of any metal compound. It was also observed that the catalytic activity of the Ni(II) strongly depends upon the metal content and the reaction temperature. Testing different vegetable oils was observed that the catalytic activity was dependent on the number of double-bonds of the oil.

► We prepared metal complexes of the type M(Carboxylate)2 (M = Ni, Fe, Co, Cu and Sn).
► Complexes are active to make polymerized vegetable oils suitable for printing inks.
► Ni(II) activity depends on its concentration and temperature and is the highest.
► The polymers are 4 times more viscous than when prepared in the absence of catalyst.