Kinetics and mechanism of acetic acid esterification with ethanol on zeolites

► Rate per proton in different zeolite structures for acetic acid esterification by ethanol. ► Mechanism proceeds through acetic acid/ethanol co-adsorbed complex. ► Rate is described as a function of temperature, zeolite structure, acetic acid, and ethanol pressure. ► Prevalent dimeric intermediates are in general more stable in larger pore zeolites.