Kinetic of esterification of diluted acetic acid with pure 2-ethyl-1-hexanol

The esterification of diluted acetic acid with pure 2-ethyl-1-hexanol is a purification process, involving a liquid-liquid-solid catalyst system, where streams of water containing small amount of acid are purified and the acetic acid is converted to a high commercial value ester at the same time. This process has been studied in a wide range of acetic acid (AA) concentration (6-15%, w/w). A maximum final conversion of 67% can be reached at 372 K. A mathematical model is here proposed: this takes into account all the diffusional and reactive steps between the aqueous and organic phases and from the latter into the pores of the solid catalyst. The relative importance of the different steps is fully discussed.