Kinetics of the Esterification Reaction between Pentanoic Acid and Methanol Catalyzed by Noncorrosive Cation Exchange Resin

Methyl pentanoate, commonly known as methyl valerate, is the methyl ester of pentanoic acid (valeric acid) with a fruity odour. Methyl pentanoate is commonly used in fragrances, beauty care, soap, laundry detergents at levels of 0.1 - 1 %. In its very pure form (purity 99.5 %) it is used as a plasticizer in the manufacture of plastics. In the present investigation, kinetics of esterification of pentanoic acid with methanol catalyzed by heterogeneous catalyst in a batch-type reactor is reported. The effect of reaction conditions such as temperature, molar ratio, catalyst loading, and initial concentration of pentanoic acid and methanol, and the inhibiting effect of water on the kinetics has been studied. The pentanoic acid conversion reached 93 % at 333.15 K at a methanol to pentanoic acid molar ratio of 10:1 with 7 % (g L-1) Amberlyst 15 as catalyst. Mass transfer effects were found to be negligible. Observed reaction rate data was fitted to the regression technique. Estimated Eley-Rideal kinetic model reaction rate constants were fitted to the Arrhenius type equation with activation energy E-A 39.5 kJ mol(-1) and pre exponential factor k(o) 1.8 . 10(3) L-2 g(-1) mol(-1) h(-1).