KINETICS AND MECHANISM OF THE CATALYZED EPOXIDATION OF OLEIC-ACID WITH OXYGEN IN THE PRESENCE OF BENZALDEHYDE

The epoxidation of oleic acid with oxygen in the presence of benzaldehyde to produce epoxidized oleic acid using Co**3**30 as the catalyst was carried out. The reaction mechanism is proposed. The results indicate that the epoxidized oleic acid was formed by a series of free-radical reactions. The experimental results show that at 75% conversion of oleic acid was formed by a series of free-radical reactions. The experimental results show that at 75% conversion of oleic acid, 66% of total theoretical epoxidized oleic acid was obtained, illustrating the high selectivity (88%). The rate-determining steps were experimentally identified.