Effect of hydrogenation temperature on the palm mid-fraction fatty acids composition and conversion

Palm mid fraction (PMF) was hydrogenated using Armfield hydrogenation pilot plant unit. Effects of hydrogenation temperature on the total conversion and selectivity were investigated. Noticeable effect of hydrogenation temperature on the reaction conversion was found. The values of reaction conversion at temperatures 99 and 130 °C were found to be considerably lower, when compared to those at temperatures 137 and 149 °C. The alteration on fatty acid composition had been studied at varying temperature and other parameters were kept constant. It can also be observed that the trans-fatty acids (TFA) content in the PMF samples hydrogenated at temperature ranges 130–137 °C, and 137–149 °C were found to be 0.197 and 0.186, respectively. Effect of reaction temperature on mass transfer resistance from the hydrogen bubble to the catalyst surface was estimated. The obtained results clarify that the volumetric mass transfer coefficient was increased around 140% by increasing the reaction temperature from 99 to 130 °C.