REACTION-KINETICS OF LACTIC-ACID WITH METHANOL CATALYZED BY ACID RESINS

The esterification of aqueous lactic acids solution with methanol and its reverse reaction catalyzed by acidic cation exchange resins in the H+ form were carried out in a batch system. The inhibiting effects of water and methanol on the resins were evaluated. The experimental dat a were correlated by a kinetic model that the inhibition by methanol a nd water was included. The reaction rate constants and the adsorption coefficients were determined from the experiments. The activity of aci dic resin was compared with that of sulfuric acid as catalyst. (C) 199 6 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.