Non alimentary rapeseed oil upgrading: a parametric study of methyl oleate pyrolysis

Methyl oleate (major rapeseed oil methyl esters) diluted with nitrogen vias pyrolyzed in a tubular reactor. The effects of temperature (between 500 and 700 degrees C) and flow time (from 0.6 ro 1.2 s) on the cracking reaction were studied. The cracking effluents were condensed and fractionated into liquid and gazeous effluents. The la;ter were analyzed online by infrared spectrometry and gas chromatography. The former were identified by GC/MS and analyzed by gas chromatography. We obtained linear a-olefins, n-paraffins and unsaturated methyl esters. The gas fraction also contained H-2, CH4, CO and CO2. The best yields of C-10-C-14 alpha-olefins and C6:1-C12:1 unsaturated esters, high value products were obtained at about 600 degrees C and for a flow time of about 1.2 s with a molar ratio of 10/1 (nitrogen/methyl oleate). (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.