Cyclohexanol production via esterification of cyclohexene with formic acid and subsequent hydration of the ester-reaction kinetics

An alternative to current production routes to cyclohexanol, the esterification of cyclohexene with formic acid and subsequent splitting of the ester can overcome many of the drawbacks associated with conventional processes. The process that is being considered could be carried out in a reactive distillation column. To develop such a process, reliable data on liquid-liquid and vapor-liquid phase-splitting behavior and on reaction kinetics is of high importance. The current publication focuses on the reaction kinetic aspects of such a process. Reaction kinetic data for the three equilibrium reactions are being presented