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7259565 
Journal Article 
Improved synthesis and characterization of saturated branched-chain fatty acid isomers 
Ngo, HL; Hoh, E; Foglia, TA; , 
2012 
1 
European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology
ISSN: 1438-7697
EISSN: 1438-9312 
WILEY 
HOBOKEN 
114 
2 
213-221 
English 
WOS:000300499900017 
The development of viable technologies for producing green products from renewable fats and oils is highly desirable since such materials can serve as replacements for non-renewable and poorly biodegradable petroleum-based products. Mixtures of saturated branched-chain fatty acid isomers (sbc-FAs), commonly referred to as isostearic acid, are important intermediates for the production of biodegradable lubricants, cosmetics, emollients, and hydraulic fluids. Present methods for producing sbc-FAs, however, often give low yields of sbc-FAs or sbc-FA preparations with a high content of dimer acid fatty acid co-products. This study reports an improved route to synthesizing sbc-FAs from monounsaturated fatty acids using a modified H-Ferrierite zeolite catalyst in conjunction with small amounts of triphenylphosphine additive. The yields of sbc-FAs (up to 80wt%) and co-products (up to15 wt%) were determined using a modification of a previously reported GC method. A more detailed analysis of the distribution of sbc-FA isomers in the products was made by the combined use of GC x GC-TOF-MS. Additionally, it was found that the H-Ferrierite zeolite catalyst was recyclable and reusable up to 10 times without significant loss of activity and selectivity for sbc-FAs. 
Ferrierite zeolite; Mordenite; Saturated branched-chain fatty acids; Skeletal isomerization; Triphenylphosphine