2.2.1 Synthesis of Methyl oleate
Esterification reaction of OA with methanol to obtain MO was performed
in the presence of H2SO4 (catalyst)
(Aranda et al. 2008). In a typical reaction, OA (35.401 mmol,
10g), CH3OH (318.61 mmol, 12.90 ml) and
H2SO4 (0.193 ml, 3.540 mmol) were added
to the 50 ml double necked round bottomed flask equipped with an oil
bath, reflux condenser and a magnetic stirrer. The reaction mixture was
stirred for 2 h at 80 ○C and the progress of the
reaction was monitored with the help of thin layer chromatography (TLC)
taking hexane:ethylacetate (90:10) as mobile phase. After completion,
the reaction was quenched with saturated sodium bicarbonate solution.
The organic phase was extracted with ethyl acetate (3 x 30 mL), washed
with brine, dried over anhydrous Na2SO4,
concentrated in vacuo , to get methyl oleate (MO) as colourless
liquid. Esterification reaction of OA is a clean reaction and MO is
obtained as an exclusive product which is further confirmed from the1H NMR spectra (Fig. 1 ).