Application of response surface methodology to the study of methyl glucoside polyester synthesis parameters in a solvent-free system.

Response surface methodology (RSM) and 3-level-3-factor fractional factorial design were used to evaluate the effects of synthesis parameters, including reaction time (4 to 8 h), temperature (110 to 130 degrees C), and substrate molar ratio of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) from soybean oil to methyl glucoside (4:1 to 6:1) on the percent molar conversion to methyl glucoside polyester (MGPE), utilizing 15 g of methyl glucoside as the reactant in a solvent-free system. All synthesis variables (reaction time, temperature, and substrate molar ratio) exhibited significant effects on percent molar conversion to MPGE in the experimental range. Optimization of the synthesis reaction was suggested by ridge max analysis to compute the estimated ridge of optimum response for increasing radii from the center of the original design. Based on the ridge max analysis, optimum conditions were: reaction time 6.3 h, synthesis temperature 123.8 degrees C, and substrate molar ratio 5.9:1. The predicted molar conversion was 55.68% (i.e., 15 g methyl glucoside yielded 56.5 g MGPE) at the optimum point.