Experimental and Kinetic Study of Esterification of Acrylic Acid with Ethanol Using Homogeneous Catalyst

Esterification of acrylic acid with ethanol, catalyzed by sulfuric acid has been carried out in stirred batch reactor under atmospheric pressure. Different parameters such as effect of initial molar ratios of the reactants, effect of catalyst concentration, initial water and effect of temperature has been studied in the batch reactor. Different catalyst loading system (1-3 vol%), reaction temperatures (50-70 degrees C), initial reactants molar ratio (1:1-1:3) and water concentration in feed (0-20 vol%) was used in the reaction system. The temperature dependence is exponential and expressed by Arrhenius type of relationship. Kinetics parameters such as equilibrium constant, rate constants, activation energy and reaction enthalpy and entropy were estimated by experimental data. The rate equation has a remarkable fit to the data and was able to describe the behavior of the system at various reaction temperatures. Hydrochloric acid (HCl) and hydro iodic acid (HI) were also compared with sulphuric acid as catalyst for esterification of acrylic acid with ethanol. Sulphuric acid was found to be more efficient catalyst for esterification as it induces the maximum conversion of acrylic acid.