Critical temperatures and pressures, heat capacities, and thermal diffusivities of levulinic acid and four n-alkyl levulinates

Abstract

The critical temperatures, pressures, heat capacities, and thermal diffusivities of levulinic acid and methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl levulinates have been measured. Experimental critical constants of levulinic acid and alkyl levulinates have been compared with those calculated using the group contribution methods of Wilson/Jasperson, Lydersen, Constantinou/Gani, and Marrero/Gani. The temperature dependencies of heat capacities and thermal diffusivities have been approximated by a third-order and a first-order polynomial, respectively. The coefficients of these polynomials have been given. Experimental heat capacities have been compared with those estimated by the methods of Kolska et al. and Dvorkin et al. Using the experimental data, the thermal conductivities of alkyl levulinates have been calculated. These data have been compared to those calculated by the methods of Latini et al. and Sastri.