Esterification of benzoic acid in microwave tubular flow reactor

Acid-catalyzed esterification of benzoic acid with ethanol was investigated in a continuous tubular dow reactor heated by microwaves. The microwave re actor operated at medium pressure and high temperature conditions. Esterifi cation was catalyzed with sulfuric acid and with ion exchange resins. Kinet ic parameters of esterification were determined in a stirred glass vessel u sing conventional heating. A mathematical model was proposed to describe te mperature profiles and to predict the conversion of the reaction in the tub ular flow microwave reactor. The calculated conversions of benzoic acid bas ed on predicted temperature profiles agree with experimental data. The oper ating conditions in the microwave reactor allowed us to achieve high conver sions at relatively low residence times. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.