Kinetics of esterification of acetic acid with methanol in the presence of ion exchange resin catalysts

Abstract

Esterification kinetics of acetic acid with methanol was studied with solid acid catalyst in an isothermal batch reactor at 333-353 K. Different types of ion exchange catalyst (Indion 130, Indion 190, and Amberlyst 15 wet) were used for the esterification of acetic acid. It was found that Indion 130 was an effective catalyst for acetic acid esterification. The effects of stirrer speed, reaction temperature, initial reactant concentration, and catalyst loading on reaction rate were investigated and optimized. Temperature dependence of the reaction rates and activation energies was determined by an Arrhenius plot. A complete kinetic equation for describing the reaction catalyzed by Indion 130 was developed. This equation can be used in the simulation and design of the catalytic distillation column for the synthesis of methyl acetate. © 2011 American Chemical Society.