Epoxidized soybean oil
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Names | |
|---|---|
| Other names
ESBO; Epoxidized soya bean oil; ESO | |
| Identifiers | |
| ChemSpider |
|
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.029.444 |
| EC Number |
|
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
|
| Properties | |
| Appearance | Light yellow viscous liquid[1] |
| Density | 0.994 g/cm3[1] |
| Melting point | 0 °C (32 °F; 273 K)[1] |
| Insoluble[1] | |
| Hazards[2] | |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | |
| Flash point | 227 °C (441 °F; 500 K) |
| 600 °C (1,112 °F; 873 K) | |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
| |
Epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO) is a collection of organic compounds obtained from the epoxidation of soybean oil. It is used as a plasticizer and stabilizer in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics. ESBO is a yellowish viscous liquid.[3]

ESBO is manufactured from soybean oil through the process of epoxidation. Polyunsaturated vegetable oils are widely used as precursors to epoxidized oil products because they have high numbers of carbon-carbon double bonds available for epoxidation.[4] The epoxide group is more reactive than double bond, thus providing a more energetically favorable site for reaction and making the oil a good hydrochloric acid scavenger and plasticizer. Usually a peroxide or a peracid is used to add an atom of oxygen and convert the -C=C- bond to an epoxide group.[3]
Uses
Food products that are stored in glass jars are usually sealed with gaskets made from PVC. ESBO is one of the additives in the PVC gasket. It serves as a plasticizer and a scavenger for hydrochloric acid released when the PVC degrades thermally, e.g. when the gasket is applied to the lid and food product undergoes sterilization.[5] ESBO is also used in PVC cling films for wrapping foods and toys.
