Sustainable synthesis, process optimization, and industrial applications of oleic ethanolamide

In recent decades, oleic ethanolamide (OEA) has garnered significant interest because the amide bond is one of the most prevalent functional groups among bioactive molecules, it is a natural surfactant widely used to formulate cosmetic products, biopesticides, detergents, and enhanced oil recovery. This growing interest necessitates large-scale production using readily available raw materials, which is why palm oil, being the most abundant, is chosen. After refining and interesterification, oil palm produces an oil containing 80–95% oleic acid (OA), further encouraging its use. The synthesis of OEA from oleic oil and ethanolamine can be achieved through a faster chemical reaction, providing better yields. However, due to the high reaction temperatures above 160 °C and considering the atom economy principle, enzymatic reactions at moderate temperatures are preferred, although less productive. The optimization of parameters such as catalyst concentration, temperature, and solvent can significantly increase the quantity of the final product. A short-term comparison of the variable costs between the two reaction types leans toward enzymatic synthesis, reducing production costs by more than 40%. This review aims to explain and discuss recent findings in the literature on palm oleic oil processing, efficient methods for OEA synthesis and optimization, and its industrial applications.