Esterification reaction of oleic acid with a fusel oil fraction for production of lubricating oil

In this study, the esterification of oleic acid with a fraction of fusel oi l was investigated. The variables that affect ester yield, such as temperat ure, molar ratio of oleic acid to alcohol,and amount of catalyst, were dete rmined. Powdered silica gel was chosen to remove water instead of granular silica gel, magnesium sulfate, or benzene. The behavior of amyl alcohols an d the, fusel oil fraction was compared. The esterification reaction was car ried out under the reaction conditions selected as optimal, and the ester c onversion of the reaction was 97.3%. The product mixture compressed product s, excess reactants, catalyst, and desiccant. Oleate ester and oleic acid ( 2.7%) were obtained using the refinement steps of filtration, evaporation, washing with distilled water, and drying over sodium sulfate.