Reaction and phase equilibria of esterification of isoamyl alcohol and acetic acid at 760 mm Hg

The thermodynamic behavior of esterification reaction equilibrium and vapor–liquid equilibrium (VLE) of acetic acid and isoamyl alcohol mixture and its products, isoamyl acetate and water were investigated in this study. The experiments of chemical and phase equilibria were conducted in an Othmer type equilibrium cell. Since this esterification reaction proceeds very slowly, thus, a commercial Y type zeolite, NaY catalyst, was added to accelerate reaction rate such that the reaction equilibrium will be reached sooner and before phase equilibrium is considered. Using experimental data and phase and reaction equilibrium equations, the reaction equilibrium constants were calculated at different temperatures. The experimental results showed that the reaction equilibrium constant was very slightly dependent on temperature. The experimental data were then correlated by the Wilson, NRTL, and UNIQUAC models with the consideration of association effect of acetic acid in vapor phase. The concept of transformation composition by Barbosa and Doherty [D. Barbosa, M.F. Doherty, 1987, Proc. R. Soc. London Ser. A 413, 443–459.] was applied to construct three-dimensional figures showing experimental data and the calculated composition surfaces. It is observed from figures that the reactive azeotropy described by Barbosa and Doherty does not exist for this quaternary mixture. This study provides the required thermodynamic information for the development and design of this esterification process.