Gas-phase Esterfication of Propionic Acid with Ethanol on Ion Exchange Resin

Abstract

Kinetic study of the esterification of propionic acid with ethanol was carried out at 120° C in the gaseous phase with use of sulfonated styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer as a catalyst. The kinetics at initial stage revealed that the reaction is bimolecular one of the Langmuir-Hinshe-lwood type.
Further, behavior of active sites was closely examined by replacing the hydrogen ions of the catalyst resin a variety of metallic ions; sodium, potassium, lithium, magnesium, calcium, manganese, nickel and aluminium ions. The catalytic activity was found to be affected by the ionic valencies of the metallic cations (Me⁺ <Me²⁺ <Me³⁺).