Comparison of polyvinylbenzene and polyolefin supported sulphonic acid catalysts in the esterification of acetic acid

New polyolefin supported sulphonic acid catalysts were used in the esterifi cation of acetic acid with methanol. The new catalysts turned out to be sta ble and active in esterification, The esterification kinetics was modelled with a mechanistic rate equation, the parameters of which were determined b y non-linear regression, The esterification rare constant of the most activ e modification of the new catalyst was 9.6 x 10(-10) dm(9)/(mol(2) g min) a t 55 degrees C, which clearly exceeds the corresponding value obtained with a traditional polyvinylbenzene supported catalyst, 1.5 x 10(-10) dm(9)/(mo l(2) g min). (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.