Esterification of Octanoic Acid with Octanol in Microemulsion and Emulsion System

Abstract

The esterification of octanoic acid with octanol in microemulsion and emulsion system is studied. In the presence of 5–10% dodecylbenzene-sulfonic acid (DBSA), which is a surfactant-type catalyst, high conversion of esterification can be given both in microemulsion and in emulsion system. Compared with emulsion system, single-phase microemulsion is a more effective reaction system for esterification, with the advantages of comparatively little influence by the amount of water, no need of hard stirring, and stable state when laid long. The esterification of other fatty acids and alcohols in this reaction system were also accomplished in favorable conversion.

Keywords:

• Emulsion
• esterification
• DBSA
• microemulsion

The authors acknowledge the financial support of project “Light of Western” at Chinese Academic Science (05200333003003).

Notes

Reaction conditions: t = 48 h, T = 298 K, water: DBSA: organic phase = 10:10:80.