Synergistic effect of mixed alcohols on esterification of decanoic acid with amberlyst 15 as catalyst

Abstract

Mixed esters of decanoic acid were synthesized using Amberlyst 15 catalyst in batch reactor. Butanol–methanol was used as alcohol feed for esterification of decanoic acid. Synergic effect of alcohol gave a good result in esterification reaction. The studies showed that the conversion of decanoic acid to its butyl methyl ester can be performed at optimal temperature 358 K, 8% catalyst loading, 1:4/1 M ratio (acid: butanol/methanol) in presence of solid acid catalyst. We have also investigated salient fuel properties of mixed methyl-butyl decanoate and found that use of butyl methyl decanoate become economically attractive as it shows better fuel properties. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 38:e13103, 2019. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers