Zinc Chloride Catalytic Synthesis of Phytol from Acacia Auriculiformis (ear Leaf Acacia)

Student: Afeez Ayomo Olasupo (Project, 2025)
Department of Chemical Engineering
Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna

Abstract

This study investigates the zinc chloride-catalyzed synthesis of phytol from Acacia auriculiformis (Ear Leaf Acacia) leaves. The primary objectives were to examine the effect of temperature and catalyst loading on phytol yield and to analyze the final product using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Dried and pulverized Acacia auriculiformis leaves were treated with varying concentrations of ZnCl₂ catalyst (0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%) and subjected to different temperatures (40°C, 50°C, 60°C, 70°C, and 80°C). The experimental process involved extraction, filtration, and dehydration, followed by GC-MS analysis to quantify phytol yield. The results revealed that catalyst loading and temperature significantly influenced the yield, with the highest yield (13.11%) observed at 50°C and 0.5% ZnCl₂ loading. Higher catalyst concentrations and temperatures beyond 50°C led to inconsistent or reduced phytol yields, possibly due to degradation or secondary reactions. The study demonstrates the efficiency of zinc chloride catalysis in phytol synthesis and provides insights into optimizing reaction conditions for enhanced production.

Keywords
acacia chloride catalytic synthesis phytol auriculiformis
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