Kinetics of Esterification of Propionic Acid and Cyclohexanol

Abstract

Kinetic studies of esterification of propionic acid with cyclohexanol were carried out using sulplhuric acid as catalyst.  Experiments were conducted in a stirred, temperature controlled batch reactor.  The reaction is homogeneous.  The effects of different variables that influence the rate constant such as temperature, catalyst concentration and mole ratio or reactants were studied.  The reaction rate followed second order with respect to the acid concentration.  The mole ratio is varied between 0.5 and 2.0, temperature between 50 and 70oC and catalyst concentration between 1.5 and 4.5 weight percent.  An equation is obtained for the prediction of rate constant.