Enhancement of esterification reaction yield using zeolite A vapour permeation membrane

A tubular zeolite NaA membrane, prepared on a carbon/zirconia support, was tested for the removal of water from water/isopropanol and water/ethanol mixtures, in both pervaporation and vapour permeation modes, and shown to give high selectivity. The esterification of lactic acid with ethanol to give ethyl lactate was studied in a batch reactor, without catalyst and with p-toluene sulphonic acid as catalyst. The use of a zeolite A vapour permeation membrane to remove water generated by the reaction gave substantially enhanced yields of product, compared to control experiments carried out without the membrane and with the membrane but without vacuum being applied.