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Title:	Esterification of oleic acid with oleyl alcohol
Author:	Persurance, Robert
View Online:	njit-etd1964-015 (viii, 76 pages ~ 7.1 MB pdf)
Department:	Department of Chemical Engineering
Degree:	Master of Science
Program:	Chemical Engineering
Document Type:	Thesis
Advisory Committee:	Kreps, Saul I. (Committee chair) Snyder, William H. (Committee member) Frederick, Michael (Committee member)
Date:	1964-05
Keywords:	Esterification
Availability:	Unrestricted
Abstract:	The esterification of oleic acid with oleyl alcohol was studied. A literature search showed that the chemical kinetics for this reaction had not been studied previously. In the temperature range of 150 to 200°C. and up to a conversion of about 85 per cent, the esterification was found to be a second order reaction when the water of reaction was removed from the system by simple distillation. Para-toluenesulfonic acid is an effective catalyst for this system, and the observed specific rate constant is a linear function of the catalyst concentration. The effect of temperature on the specific rate constant for the uncatalyzed reaction is given by the equation In k1 = 6.88 x 103/T + 10.5 where k1 is in units of l./(g.-mole) (min.) and T is in degrees Kelvin. For the catalyzed reaction, the equation is ln k2 = -4.90 x 103/T + 14.7 Energies of activation for the uncatalyzed and catalyzed reactions were graphically evaluated to be 13,650 calories per gram-mole and 9730 calories per gram-mole, respectively. An empirical rate equation was derived for this system. Using the values of the frequency factors and energies of activation determined from the experimental data, the rate equation becomes r = (2.35e-6.88x10^3/T +2.69e-4.90x10^3/T CC) CA,CB where r = reaction rate, (g.-moles)/(l.) (min.) CA,CB,CC = concentrations of oleic acid, oleyl alcohol, and catalyst, respectively, m./l. T = absolute temperature, °K.