Esterification in a structured catalytic reactor with counter-current water removal

In this research the liquid phase esterification of hexanoic acid and I-oct anol was studied. Very high activities were obtained for zeolite BEA and Na fion/silica composite with 13% of Nafion. The advantage of water removal in this system was demonstrated. In a closed system an equilibrium conversion of 35% was reached, while in a system with water removal all the reactants were converted in a shorter period. The initial reaction rate decreases wh en increasing the initial water concentration, following a Langmuir-Hinshel wood type of rate expression. An active zeolite coated structured monolithi c reactor configuration was prepared. Enhancement by the counter-current wa ter stripping of the performance of the structured catalysts was demonstrat ed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.