Abstract
We investigated effect of zeolite pore size and channel space on the esterification of 1-octanol and pentanoic acid in a liquid phase by using various types of zeolites having different cryatal sizes. The Arrhenius parameters for the reaction suggested that MFI zeolites show diffusion limitation and condensation effect for the reaction. As a result of condensation effect, a MFI zeolite represented higher conversion of 1-octanol than not only MOR and BEA zeolites having larger pore size than MFI zeolite, but also sulfated zirconia (SZ) at 423 K. It is proposed that MFI zeolites provide a specific space for efficient esterification between 1-octanol and pentanoic acid.
