Catalytic esterification of methyl alcohol with acetic acid

Abstract

Esterification of methyl alcohol with acetic acid catalysed by Amberlyst-15 (cation-exchange resin) was carried out in a batch reactor in the temperature ranging between 318-338 K, at atmospheric pressure. The reaction rate increased with increase in catalyst concentration and reaction temperature, but decreased with an increase in water concentration. Stirrer speed had virtually no effect on the rate under the experimental conditions. The rate data were correlated with a second-order kinetic model based on homogeneous reaction. The apparent activation energy was found to be 22.9 kJ.mol(-1) for the formation of methyl acetate. The methyl acetate production was carried out as batch and continuous in a packed bed reactive distillation column with high purity methyl acetate produced.