Analytical Investigation of Oleic Acid Double Bond Cleavage Using Cu-BiVO4 Photocatalyst in Water/Ethanol System Using GC-MS Analysis

Annisa Aulia Rahmah (Chemistry Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Jakarta, Jl. Rawamangun Muka, Rawamangun, Jakarta Timur, DKI Jakarta 13220)
Bambang Prijamboedi (Inorganic and Physical Chemistry Research Division, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Bandung Institute of Technology, Jl. Ganesha 10, Bandung, 40132, Indonesia.)
Fainan Failamani (Inorganic and Physical Chemistry Research Division, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Bandung Institute of Technology, Jl. Ganesha 10, Bandung, 40132, Indonesia.)

Jurnal Riset Sains dan Kimia Terapan
Vol. 12 No. 1 (2026): Jurnal Riset Sains dan Kimia Terapan, Volume 12 Nomor 1, Juni 2026

The oxidative cleavage of unsaturated fatty acids is a promising pathway for producing value-added chemicals; however, its photocatalytic conversion remains limited by catalyst efficiency. This study investigates the performance of BiVO₄ and Cu-modified BiVO₄ (Cu–BiVO₄) in promoting the photocatalytic cleavage of oleic acid in a water–ethanol system under visible light irradiation. The catalysts were synthesized via hydrothermal and impregnation methods, followed by photocatalytic reactions for 24 h. Product distribution and transformation pathways were analyzed using GC–MS. The results show that pristine BiVO₄ exhibits limited catalytic activity, while Cu–BiVO₄ significantly enhances the formation of C14 and C16 saturated fatty acids along with various oxidative cleavage products. This improvement is attributed to enhanced charge separation and increased generation of reactive oxygen species. These findings demonstrate that Cu–BiVO₄ is a more effective photocatalyst for the oxidative transformation of unsaturated fatty acids.