Kinetic investigations of a ketonization reaction using reaction calorimetry

The reactor calorimetric technique was employed to study a homogeneous, liquid-phase ketonization reaction used in fine chemical syntheses, where an unsaturated alcohol and unsaturated ether condense to form an unsaturated ketone with higher molecular weight. The experiments were carried out in a calorimetric reactor (RC-1) and the data obtained allowed the determination of reaction heat flow versus time, overall reaction enthalpy, and reaction course for experiments at different temperatures. Using the latter data, the conversion versus time behavior was determined. These data were modeled assuming a pseudo-first-order kinetics and an Arrhenius-type temperature dependence of the specific reaction rate. Comparison between these results and the usual concentration versus time experimental data obtained with a different technique was satisfactory.