Esterification of acrylic acid with 2-ethylhexan-1-ol: Thermodynamic and kinetic study

The activity and selectivity of polystyrene sulfonic acid resins (Amberlyst 39, Amberlyst 46, Amberlyst 70, and Amberlyst 131) were measured in the reaction of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate formation. The kinetics of the esterification of acrylic acid with 2-ethylhexan-1-ol was studied using Amberlyst 70 ion exchange resin (1–10 wt%) as a catalyst superior over a group of commercial catalysts. The 7:1, 5:1, 3:1, 1:1, 1:3, 1:5, and 1:7 alcohol to acid molar ratio was used to carry out the reaction in an isothermal batch reactor at temperatures from 353 to 393 K. The studied mixtures are highly non-ideal, therefore, the kinetic equations and equilibrium parameters were expressed in terms of activities.

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► Among studied catalysts, Amberlyst 70 showed the most catalytic activity.
► The temperature dependence of the thermodynamic equilibrium constant was determined.
► The enthalpy of reaction was estimated.
► Kinetic model of the reaction was established.
► The kinetic parameters were found for ideal and non-ideal quasi-homogeneous models.