Esterification of propanoic acid in the presence of a homogeneous catalyst

Esters are organic compounds that widely used even on an industrial scale, so their production has been extensively investigated. The aim of this work is to carry out the optimization process esterification propionic acid with lower monohydric alcohols. influence amount catalyst (H2SO4), size and structure alcohol, a-substituent, molar acid/alcohol ratio temperature were descending order reactivity tested alcohol is: 1-butanol> 1-propanol> ethanol> 2-propanol. As increases, rate yield reaction increase. maximum n-propyl propanoate in our experiments was 96.9%, achieved at a propanoic acid/1-propanol/catalyst 1/10/0.20 65°C for 210 minutes reaction.