Kinetics of catalytic esterification of acetic acid and amyl alcohol over Dowex

The kinetic behavior of the heterogeneous esterification of acetic acid wit h amyl alcohol over an acidic cation-exchange resin, Dowex 50Wx8-100, was i nvestigated. The experiments were conducted in a fixed-bed reactor at tempe ratures from 323 to 393 K and at molar ratios of feed (amyl alcohol to acet ic acid) from 1 to 10. The equilibrium conversion of acetic acid was found to increase with increasing reaction temperature. A water-rich phase (the s econd liquid phase) appeared in the reacting mixture when the feed composit ion was close to stoichiometric. Gas bubble formation was observed when the reaction temperature was as high as 393 K. The kinetic data were correlate d with the quasi-homogeneous, Langmuir-Hinshelwood, Eley-Rideal, and modifi ed Langmuir-Hinshelwood models. The modified Langmuir-Hinshelwood model yie lded the best representation for the kinetic behavior of the reaction over wide ranges of temperature and feed composition.