The solubility of H2 in electrolytes, H2 reaction consumption and the conductivity of electrolytes under different pressures in an electrochemical hydrogenation reactor were studied. It was found that with an increase in H2 pressure, H2 was electrolyzed at the anode, accompanied by the generation of H+. The solubility of H2 in the electrolytes and the conductivity of the electrolytes also increased. At first, the reaction consumption increased, followed by a tendency to be stable at 3 MPa. Therefore, the electrochemical hydrogenation of soybean oil was carried out at a H2 pressure of 3 MPa. When the current was 120 mA, the temperature was 50°C, the agitation speed was 300 rpm, and the time was 7.5 h, the IV of hydrogenated soybean oil was 99.6 g I2/100 g oil, and the TFA content of the oil was 4.3%.
Keywords: H+; H2 conditions; electrochemical hydrogenation; electrolytic H2; inhibition of TFAs; mass transfer rate.