The effect of sulfonation temperature and time on VCO-Based Methyl Ester Sulfonate synthesis

In general, surfactants are processed from petroleum and natural gas, which can cause environmental pollution. Therefore, an alternative approach has been identified: using vegetable oils, such as Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO), as raw materials for surfactant production. One type of surfactant that can be made from VCO is Methyl Ester Sulfonate (MES), an environmentally friendly anionic surfactant with great potential for development as a detergent base. This study aims to determine the effect of sulfonation temperature and time on the characteristics of MES synthesized from VCO. The synthesis process is carried out in two stages: transesterification of VCO to a methyl ester, followed by sulfonation with sodium bisulfite (NaHSO₃) as the sulfonating agent and calcium oxide (CaO) as the catalyst. The reaction temperatures were 90°C, 100°C, 110°C, and 120°C, with reaction times of 180, 210, 240, and 270 minutes, respectively. Parameters analyzed included yield, density, pH, and the FTIR spectrum of the MES product. The results showed that temperature and reaction time significantly influenced the characteristics of the resulting MES product. The highest yield of 90.25% was obtained at 110°C and 210 minutes. Product characterization showed that the optimum operating conditions produced MES with physical and chemical properties that meet the standards for good surfactants. This research contributes to the development of environmentally friendly, renewable, natural-based surfactants.