抄録
Some primary alcohols, different in alkyl chain lengths ranging from C4 to C8, were anodically esterified by using I+/I– as a mediator while the alcohols were emulsified in water by ultrasonic irradiation. Concurrently, for comparison, they were similarly esterified while emulsified with surfactant addition. The irradiation increased alcohol conversion and ester yield, although the values were less than the maxima obtained by surfactant addition. Further the conversion and yield varies through maxima against change in the alkyl chain length. The increase in the conversion and ester yield is explained in terms of an increase in interfacial area of the dispersed alcohol phase. The variation in the conversion and ester yield with the alkyl chain length is regarded as being caused from changes in the physico-chemical properties of the alcohols, such as solubility in water and viscosity. Superimposition of ultrasonic irradiation to surfactant addition increases further the conversion and yield at lower and higher surfactant concentrations. However, it did not make the conversion and yield exceed their maxima attained by surfactant addition alone.
