CATALYTIC PROPERTIES OF SUPPORTED TITANATES IN TRANSESTERIFICATION

Titanates fixed on silica have been employed as catalysts for transesterification of 1-dodecanol with ethyl propionate. Kinetic studies show that the reaction is first order in alcohol by using a semicontinuous reactor and first order in ester by using a batch reactor. Initial rate studies in a batch reactor, where exchange reactions with alcohol and ester are very slow, indicate the influence of the titanium environment on the catalytic activity. The heterogenization of the process shows the importance of hydrolysis, and especially its reversibility, since the catalyst can be regenerated; it also provides a better understanding of the homogeneous experimental conditions because there is no association phenomenon at the surface of the solid. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.