Slug flow as tool for selectivity control in the homogeneously catalysed solvent-free epoxidation of methyl oleate

Abstract Catalytic oxidation of sustainable raw materials like unsaturated fats and oils, or fatty acids their esters, lead to biobased, high-value products. Starting from technical grade methyl oleate, hydrogen peroxide as a green oxidant produces only water by-product. A commercially available, cheap water-soluble tungsten catalyst is combined with Aliquat® 336 phase-transfer agent in solvent-free reaction conditions. In this study, we first report the transfer well-known batch system into continuous mode. The space–time yield improved 0.08 kg/L.h 1.29 flow mass reduced back mixing biphasic liquid–liquid slug allows for selectivity control depending on physical parameters namely volumetric phase ratio, rate, length. Even though product, 9,10-epoxystearate obtained at maximum 58% mode, higher space time possible reactant recycling mode offers promising avenue research. This work analyses use tools controlling towards products oleate.