Synthesis and Characterization of Palm Oil Based Polyol

Abstract

In this study, palm oil-based polyols were prepared and characterized. In order to prepare the polyol, Epoxidized palm oil (EPO) was reacted with glycerol and undergoes ring opening reaction. The synthesized oil was characterized by oxygen oxirane content titration (OOC), hydroxyl value test (HV), fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Based on the FTIR spectrum of polyols, the disappearance of epoxy groups at 825cm-1, 843cm-1 and the emergence of hydroxyl group at 3394cm-1 are obvious indicating that hydroxyl group of the polyols formed. In NMR, the presence of new signal at δ 3.46ppm (-CH-OH) showed the attachment of hydroxyl group onto the epoxidized palm oil.