COPPER(II) OLEATE

Chemical Properties

Copper(II) oleate is a blue to green solid; can be prepared by reacting the acid with CuO or basic carbonate of Cu; coalesces mercury drops; improves oil combustion by reducing smoke and fumes of burning oil; used as textile fungicide, used in antifouling marine paints [MER06].

Uses

In antifouling compositions; as emulsifier and dispersing agent; as antioxidant in lubricating oils; as combustion-improver in fuel oils; as stabilizer for amide polymers; as catalyst.

Preparation

Copper(II) oleate is produced by the precipitation reaction of copper(II) sulfate solutions with sodium oleate. It is insoluble in water. The product of commerce contains between 6% and 9% copper. Copper(II) oleate is used as an emulsifier and dispersant for the control of mildew and as a combustion improver in fuel oils.

Flammability and Explosibility

Not classified

Synthesis

The electrolysis system consisted of a Cu foil (3x1 cm, 0.1 cm thickness) as the anode and graphite rod (6.5 mm diameter, Johnson Matthey Chemicals Ltd.) as the cathode in the presence of ammonium acetate (CH3COONH4) as the supporting electrolyte solution. Prior to synthesis, both anode and cathode were rinsed with distilled water and small amount of acetone to remove any trace organic materials on their surface. A DC power supply (TTi PSU Bench CPX400A) was used throughout the electrochemical synthesis. The acid solution (in ethanol) was mixed with CH3COONH4 solution with the ratio of 1:1 into the electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cell used was a simple and undivided cell with the capacity of 100mL. The reaction was performed at room temperature (~27°C) for 4 hours. Strong stirring (900 rpm) was kept throughout the synthesis process. The resulting complex in blue precipitate was then filtered and washed with distilled water and ethanol to remove the impurities. The precipitate was then dried in a desiccator for 24 hours. Copper(II) oleate can be obtained.

Purification Methods

Crystallise it from diethyl ether. [Beilstein 2 H 465, 2 I 196, 2 I202, 2 II 436, 2 III 1404, 2 IV 1646.]

Toxicity evaluation

Toxicity of Copper(II) oleate was demonstrate in experiments on S.mansoni cercariae. 1 mL of Copper(II) oleate (20% in ether) was put in a tet tube containing 10 mL of aerated tap water. Test tubes were allowed to stand for 30 minutes with occasional shaking. The water was then poured off and filtered. 1 mL of filtrate from each tube was placed in a separate Syracuse watch glass. Water saturated with copper oleate killed all the cercariae in 30 minutes.