Experimental Study of Batch Reactor Performance for Ethyl Acetate Saponification

Abstract

Abstract The objective of the current research work is to investigate the performance of batch reactor for saponification of ethyl acetate with sodium hydroxide. Temperature, volume of reaction mixture, rate of agitation, and initial concentration of reactants are the operating conditions considered for analysis. The NaOH concentration decreases from 1.13 × 10−2 mol/L to 0.57 × 10−2 mol/L when reaction temperature increases from 293 K to 313 K after the completion of the reaction. The conversion of NaOH increases with increased reaction temperature under the studied range of reaction temperatures until the stable condition is achieved. Reactant concentration declines with increased volume of reaction mixture from 1.2 L to 1.8 L. Sodium acetate concentration and reaction conversion decrease with increased volume of reaction mixture within the studied range. Concentration of sodium acetate decreases with increased rate of agitation. The conversion of sodium hydroxide declines with increased agitation rate from 70 rpm to 150 rpm. Higher initial reactant concentration leads to decreased reaction conversion. The results obtained may be used to optimize the production of ethanol and sodium acetate using saponification reaction.