Kinetics of catalytic esterification of acetic acid with amyl alcohol overAmberlyst 15

Kinetic behavior was investigated in an isothermal fixed-bed reactor for th e catalytic esterification or acetic acid with amyl alcohol over Amberlyst 15, an acidic cation exchange resin. Both chemical equilibria and phase beh avior of the reacting mixtures were also observed under different feed comp ositions. Four kinetic models, including the pseudo-homogeneous, the Langmu ir-Hinshelwood, the Eley-Rideal, and a modified Langmuir-Hinshelwood, were applied to correlate the kinetic data at temperatures between 303.15 and 35 3.15 K and molar ratios of feed (amyl alcohol to acetic acid) from I to 15. The capabilities of these models were compared.