SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERISATION OF ANIONIC SURFACTANT FROM AFZELIA AFRICANA SEED OIL

Abstract: This research explores the possibility of synthesizing surfactant using vegetable oil from Afzelia africana seeds through a two-step transesterification and sulfonation processes. The oil was extracted by Soxhlet using n-hexane as the solvent. Characterization in terms of physicochemical parameters gave the following results: 24.72 % oil yield, a value that compares favourably with other fatty acids used for similar applications, specific gravity of 0.93, refractive index of 1.48, saponification value of 204.03 (mgKOH/g), an acid value of 5.6 (mgKOH/g), and an iodine value of 105.75 (Wij’s) respectively. These values indicated that the semi-drying oil is suitable for the synthesis of surfactant. The oil was transesterified using ethanol with KOH catalyst. The ester product underwent sulfonation with NaHSO₃ as the sulfonation agent using Al₂O₃ catalyst. The sulfonated product was purified with ethanol and neutralised with NaOH. Both the fatty acid ethyl ester (FAEE) and the fatty acid ethyl ester sulfonate (FAEES) were analysed using Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy which showed that both compounds contain their characteristic functional groups: the FAEE had a C=O stretch at 1736.9 cm^-1 among other peaks, while the FAEES also showed a C=O stretch at 1640.0 cm^-1; 1230 cm^-1 for the sulfonate group, 1140.6 cm^-1 for the S=O group, and 924.4 cm^-1 which indicated S-O group. These functional groups established the synthesized moiety to be a sulfonated ester (surfactant). Therefore, the results from this study show that A. africana seed oil can be a viable alternative feedstock for the production of surfactant for application across the chemical industry.

Keywords: Surfactant, Two-step Transesterification, Sulfonation, FT-IR.

Title: SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERISATION OF ANIONIC SURFACTANT FROM AFZELIA AFRICANA SEED OIL

Author: Orhena E, Ikyenge B. A, Weor T.T, Ishwah. B

International Journal of Novel Research in Physics Chemistry & Mathematics

ISSN 2394-9651

Vol. 9, Issue 3, September 2022 - December 2022

Page No: 30-38

Novelty Journals

Website: www.noveltyjournals.com

Published Date: 19-October-2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7226363

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