Surfactant Production of Methyl Ester Sulfonate from Virgin Coconut Oil using Aluminum Oxide with Microwave Assistance

Surfactant Production of Methyl Ester Sulfonate from Virgin Coconut Oil using Aluminum Oxide with Microwave Assistance

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As a surfactant, methyl ester sulfonate (MES) can be produced from virgin coconut oil (VCO) raw materials through the following stages: transesterification, sulfonation, and purification.The transesterification process was carried out to produce Lubricant methyl esters by reacting VCO with methanol in a mole ratio of 1:41 using a 1% KOH catalyst at a microwave power of 300 W for 60 min.The effects of microwave power and mole ratios between methyl esters and sodium bisulfite in the sulfonation process were investigated.The sulfonation process was carried out using a 1% aluminum oxide catalyst.

The purification process was carried out by reacting MES with 35% v/v methanol at 150 W of microwave power for 10 min.The resulting MES was analyzed using gas chromatography and Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy.The optimum conditions for surfactant production included a microwave power of 450 W and reactant 4X NATURAL LAUNDRY DETERGENT FREE mole ratio of 1:1, which resulted in a surface tension of 37.9 dyne/cm, pH of 4.

21, density of 0.87 g/mL, and viscosity of 3.33 cSt.Based on the FT-IR analysis, the vibrational strain of the sulfonate group was detected at a peak value of 1014.

42 for symmetrical S-O and 722.24 cm-1 for asymmetrical S-O.