Sustainable Process for Production of Azelaic Acid Through Oxidative Cleavage of Oleic Acid

This work describes two sustainable methods for production and purification of azelaic acid (AA) to replace the current process of ozonolysis of oleic acid (OA). The first proceeds in two steps, coupling smooth oxidation of OA to 9,10-dihydroxystearic acid (DSA) with subsequent oxidative cleavage by sodium hypochlorite. An alternative methodology is also proposed, using a chemocatalytic system consisting of H2O2/H2WO4 for direct oxidative cleavage of the double bond of OA at 373 K. A convenient technique for separation and purification of azelaic acid is also proposed.