KYAMBOGO UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF SCIENCE

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING

YEAR 4

SEMESTER 1

NAME : MAKELLO INNOCENT

REG. NO. : 15/U/5197/CHD/PD
LECTURER : Mr. BALUKU MARTIN
EXPERIMENT FOR ESTERIFICATION REACTION BETWEEN ACETIC ACID AND
ETHANOL IN THE PRESENCE OF SULPHURIC ACID AS A CATALYST

Abstract

Since chemical reaction is the most important phenomena in chemical engineering and reaction
engineering, esterification reaction was studied for this purpose and the product concentration
was determined at equal time interval to determine the order of reaction. Investigation of kinetics
of the reaction indicated that increasing the [Acetic Acid/EtOH] molar ratio is favoured for
esterification reaction, this is because the reaction is catalyzed by acid. The maximum
conversion, approximately 83% was obtained at 65°C for molar ratio of Ac/5EtOH. The graph
was plotted from the obtained data to determine the order of reaction. All the experimental works
was conducted in the chemical engineering laboratory of the Chemistry Department, Kyambogo
University.

Aim: To understand the rate of the reaction and the kinetics of the Esterification reaction in an
adiabatic batch reactor.

Introduction

Esters are a class of organic compounds which, unlike many organics, have pleasant odors. In
fact, many of the "artificial flavors" used in food products are esters - very pure esters.

Esters are unique in that they often have strong, pleasant odors. As such, they are often used in
fragrances, and many artificial flavorings are in fact esters. Esters are produced by the reaction
between alcohols and carboxylic acids.

Esters occur naturally but can also be synthesized in the lab. To synthesize an ester, you must
start with two other organic compounds - an alcohol and an acid. The ester is formed when
dehydration occurs. The alcohol and acid react to form the ester and a water molecule.

Some esters that can be synthesized include methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen), isoamyl
butyrate (pear), isoamyl acetate (banana), ethyl acetate (fruity), and ethyl salicylate (sweet smell).
THEORY

Esters are organic molecules of the general form:

where R1 and R2 are any carbon chain.

Esters in general are formed where an alcohol is mixed with an acid, but the change, which is a
gradual one, is never complete, because the reaction is reversible'

When the interaction has proceeded for 'a certain time, the quantity of ester which is
decomposed, by the water present is equal to that formed in the same time by the interaction of
the acid and the alcohol. In other words, a condition of equilibrium is established and, the
equations can be represented by

RCOOH + HOR’ ---- RCOOR’ + H2 O

Organic acid alcohol ester water

𝐻+
CH3 CH2 OH + CH3COOH → CH3COO CH2 CH3 + H2O

They proceed slowly in the absence of strong acids, but reach equilibrium within a matter of few
hours when an acid and an alcohol are refluxed with a small amount of concentrated sulfuric
acid. The inorganic acid serves as a liquid catalyst in this reaction. Since the position of
equilibrium controls the amount of ester formed, the use of excess of either the carboxylic acid
or the alcohol increases the yield.

When an acid (HA) is added it an Esterification mixture, the oxygen present will act as base and
coordinate with the acid. The mechanism can-be written in two ways depending on which
oxygen of the carbonyl -group acts as the base.

For example, reacting ethanol (any alkanol) with acetic acid to give alkyl acetate is shown
below.
 OH
O H
O +
H H+
H2
+ C C OH
C+
C +
H3C OH H3C O H
H3C O H
H3C O H
CH 2
H3C

H H H
O O+ OH
+
O
H2O + C OH
C C H+
C OH
H3C O H3C O H3C O
H3C O
CH 2 CH 2 CH 2
H3C H3C CH 2 H3C
H3C

REQUIREMENTS

Laboratory glassware

-Beakers (250ml)

-Measuring cylinders

-Conical flasks

-Timer

CHEMICALS REQUIRED

-10% Acetic acid (200ml)

-20% Ethanol (100ml)

-Distilled water (400ml)

-1M Sulphuric acid (2ml)

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES

- 300ml solution was prepared by mixing 200ml acetic acid with 100ml of ethanol
- Another 200ml of solution was prepared by mixing 198ml distilled water with 2ml of
Sulphuric acid.
- It was ensured that the ON/OFF switches given on the panel were at off position
 - The electric supply was connected to the set up
- The stirrer was started
- The solutions were simultaneously put into the reactor and the timer started.
- The reaction temperature was recorded immediately
- The temperature was recorded in intervals of 30seconds
- The stirrer of the reactor was switched OFF, When the experiment was over
- The main supply was switched OFF
- The reactor property was drained

RESULTS AND CALCULATIONS

The table of Results

SN Time t(min) Temperature (°C) Temperature (K) X 1/(1-x) K
1 0 22.3 295.3 0 1 6.52448E-06
2 0.5 22.7 295.7 6E-06 1.000006 6.52451E-06
3 1 23.2 296.2 1.35E-05 1.000014 6.52456E-06
4 1.5 23.6 296.6 1.95E-05 1.00002 6.5246E-06
5 2 23.8 296.8 2.25E-05 1.000023 6.52462E-06
6 2.5 24 297 2.55E-05 1.000026 6.52464E-06
7 3 24.2 297.2 2.85E-05 1.000029 6.52466E-06
8 3.5 24.5 297.5 3.3E-05 1.000033 6.52469E-06
9 4 24.6 297.6 3.45E-05 1.000035 6.5247E-06
10 4.5 24.7 297.7 3.6E-05 1.000036 6.52471E-06
11 5 24.7 297.7 3.6E-05 1.000036 6.52471E-06
12 5.5 24.7 297.7 3.6E-05 1.000036 6.52471E-06

Calculations

Given

Heat of reaction ∆H(T) = 200000000J/kgmol

Specific heat of the reaction Cpv = 3000J/kgK

T = T’ + 273(K)
𝐶𝑝𝑣(𝑇−𝑇𝑂 )
The conversion X= −∆𝐻(𝑇)
From the graph

Slope,= 6.52448E-06

A graph of X against t
0.00004

0.000035

0.00003

0.000025

0.00002
X

0.000015

0.00001

0.000005

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
t (S)

DISCUSSION
In this experiment the reaction rate constant of the acid catalyzed Esterification of ethanol with
acetic acid was determined by collecting conversion vs. time data at different temperatures
It was a homogeneous catalyzed reaction done in a batch reactor. Here the reactants i.e., ethyl
alcohol and acetic acid and catalyst i.e., sulfuric acid were in the same phase i.e., liquid phase
From the tables and graphs the rates of reaction increases with increase in the concentration or
the amount of the catalyst.
SOURCES OF ERRORS

- Using undistilled water for preparation of the solutions used during the experiment.
- The apparatus used were not thoroughly clean.
- Failure to start the experiment in the order of sulphuric acid, acetic acid and ethyl alcohol
taken in the reactor flask.

RECOMMENDATIONS
- For proper mixing of the reactants, a magnetic stirrer should be used.
- Measured volumes of the solutions should be taken in the reactor flask in the order of
sulphuric acid, acetic acid and ethyl alcohol for proper reaction.
- Measure the exact volume of water and weigh the chemicals
- Always use distilled water, good quality chemicals and standard solutions for titration
- Keep close all drainage valves while filling reactant in the reactor
- Handle the chemicals carefully.
- Drain the reactor and wash properly after conducting the experiment.

CONCLUSION

The reaction rate expression is very important information for the reaction engineering purposes.
The prime significance of reaction rate expression is that they provide a satisfactory framework
for the interpretation and evaluation of experimental kinetic data and industrial scale setup of the
plant. This study demonstrated the way, how a chemical engineer should interpret laboratory
scale kinetic data in terms of kinetic rate functions. Esterification reaction is chosen to perform
this study because this reaction has significant importance and most basic form of ester
production reaction. Hence an idea about determination of reaction kinetics is obtained through
this study.

This reaction is used in the manufacture of paints, varnishes, lacquers, medicines, dyes, soaps
and synthetic rubber. Ethyl acetate is one of the most useful esters .It is being used in large
quantities in manufacturing of paint, nitrocellulose lacquers, airplane dopes, artificial flavor,
.perfume, acetate payon.
REFERENCES
- Coulson and Richardson (1991).Chemical Engineering Vol-3.4th Edition.

- Folger H. Scoot (2008).Elements of Chemical Reaction Engineering. 4th Edition

- Charles G. Hill, JR., “AN INTRODUCTION TO CHEMICAL ENGINEERING KINETICS &

REACTOR DESIGN”, John Wiley & sons, New York, P. 28-29, 127-130, 1977