The Chemistry of Hydrogenation of Oils and Fats and their Applicability in Industry [A Hidrogena o de óleos e Gorduras e suas Aplica es Industriais]

The industrial process of a large number of goods commercialized in Brazil and in the World, such as fuels, foods, fine chemicals and polymers, involves at least one hydrogenation step. By using hydrogenation the physical and chemical properties of chemical compounds are modified, making possible their utilization in the formulation of industrial products. In this article the hydrogenation reaction is discussed in terms of its basic aspects as well as its applications in the oil-chemistry industry.