INFLUENCE OF MICROWAVES ON THE RATE OF ESTERIFICATION OF 2,4,6-TRIMETHYLBENZOIC ACID WITH 2-PROPANOL

The influence of microwave irradiation on the reaction kinetics of the acid-catalyzed esterification of 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoic acid in i-PrOH was investigated. The rate constants for the reaction at various temperatures were measured in experiments conducted in an oil bath and the Arrhenius parameters were calculated. Reactions were carried out under microwave irradiation with different temperature profiles and the final ester concentrations were determined. The measured ester concentrations were in agreement with those calculated by computer modeling of the reaction using the Arrhenius parameters obtained from the oil bath experiments. The rate-constant at 150-degrees-C was directly determined in a recently developed microwave reactor and was consistent with the measured Arrhenius parameters. The rate of the esterification was concluded to be the same in both the microwave reactor and in the oil bath experiments.