Abstract
Transesterification is a classical organic synthesis reaction with many uses in both laboratory and industrial applications. In this reaction, one ester is converted to another by the radical alkoxy exchange. In some cases, the transesterification process is more advantageous when used in the manufacturing of esters than their synthesis by direct esterification of the carboxylic acids with alcohols. Based on literature studies, a transesterification study coupled with the reactive distillation (RD) was performed in order to obtain isopropyl lactate (IPL) by methyl lactate (ML) with isopropanol (IPA). The independent variables studied were: the alcohol / methyl lactate molar ratio (R), the number of the theoretical stages in the fractionation zone (NTS) and the reactive distillation column reflux ratio (RR). The experimental matrix was set for a 23 factorial experiment with three variables at two levels: R = 2 and 4; NTS = 1.7, respectively 2.4 and RR = 2 and 7. A linear mathematical model was proposed to correlate the methyl lactate conversion with all three variables. The model is reliable as the statistical analysis proved.
Highlights
Transesterification is a classical organic synthesis reaction with many uses in both laboratory and industrial applications
In order to establish the optimal conditions of the reactive distillation system for the transesterification reaction in acid background with the obtaining of isopropyl lactate, the conversion of methyl lactate into isopropyl lactate was experimentally determined according to the experimental schedule in table 2
This work was dedicated to the obtaining of isopropyl lactate in transesterification of the methyl lactate with isopropanol by reactive distillation
Summary
The mechanism of the transesterification in acid background is more complex and accomplished in more steps. The protonation of the carbonyl group by the acid takes place In this way, the carbonyl group is activated for the nucleophilic attack. It is important to know the operating zones of a reactive distillation column (the zone controlled by reaction and the distillation zone) and understand the way in which the column is going to behave under the influence of the modified variables. In literature, it is presented a big variety of analysis, design and optimization models for the reactive distillation systems [11]
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