Oleic acid esterification with ethanol under continuous water removal conditions

The production of ethyl ester was investigated using a new reaction system consisting of a reactor coupled to an adsorption column. The adsorption system was used to shift the equilibrium toward ethyl ester production by removing the water from commercial ethanol and the water produced during the esterification reaction. A condenser placed above the adsorption column was responsible to condensate the vapor, returning water free ethanol to the reactor. Ethyl ester was produced by esterification of oleic acid and ethanol using sulfuric acid as catalyst. The results showed a yield of 99.9%. The best operating condition was found operating the reactor at 110 °C, 1% of catalyst (w/w) and with an oleic acid to ethanol ratio of 1:3.