Catalytic Esterification of Medium-Chain Fatty Acids: Kinetic Investigations

Medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) are straight-chain fatty acids with aliphatic tails of 6 - 12 carbons, which can form medium-chain triglycerides. They are found mostly in animal fats and in the tropical vegetable oils. Because of their wide applications in industry, there is a growing demand of esters of medium-chain fatty acids production. The aim of our work was investigations of the kinetics of the synthesis of esters of MCFA in the presence of dowex catalyst in wide range of process parameters. Hexanoic, octanoic and decanoic acids were esterified with n-octyl alcohol in the presence of sulfuric acid and commercial dowex W50X8 as catalysts in an experimental semi-periodic glass tank reactor with instantaneous and complete water removal. Because of complete removal of water from the reacting mixture, thus eliminating the reverse hydrolysis reaction, the esterification can be assumed as irreversible reaction. The temperature range was 393 - 423 K, the range of initial mole ratio of alcohol to acid was 3 - 10. The kinetic parameters are given. The reaction kinetics appeared to be of the first order with respect to the acid. The effect of temperature on the reaction rate follows the Arrhenius equation well.