Reaction kinetics of isopropyl palmitate synthesis

In this study, the kinetics of isopropyl palmitate synthesis including the reaction mechanism was studied based on the two-step noncatalytic method. The liquid-phase diffusion effect on the reaction process was eliminated by adjusting the stirring rate. The results showed that the two-step reaction followed a tetrahedral mechanism and conformed to second-order reaction kinetics. Nucleophilic attack on the carbonyl carbon afforded an intermediate, containing a tetrahedral carbon center. The intermediate ultimately decomposed by elimination of the leaving group, affording isopropyl palmitate. The experimental data were analyzed at different temperatures by the integral method. The kinetic equations of the each step were deduced, and the activation energy and frequency factor were obtained. Experiments were performed to verify the feasibility of kinetic equations, and the result showed that the kinetic equations were reliable. This study could be very significant to both industrial application and determining the continuous production of isopropyl palmitate.

Graphical abstractThis two-step reaction is a second-order reaction and followed a tetrahedral mechanism. The nucleophile Cl– attacks the carbonyl carbon and forms a tetrahedral intermediate. Then the elimination of the leaving group occurs to afford the isopropyl palmitate. Experiment data was collected at different temperatures and analyzed by the integral method. Based on the deduced kinetic equation of each step, the activation energy and frequency factor were obtained.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide