Esterification

Acrylic acid esters, acetic acid esters, fatty acid esters

A wide variety of acrylic esters is produced via resin catalysts. The acid can be a short organic acid like acetic acid, but also large molecules like acrylic acid or fatty acids.

The alcohols range from C1 to C6, but can be also a polyol like glycerin.

Depending on the acid and the alcohol different catalysts might be advisable. They range from macroporous to microporous catalysts with different properties.

Learn about our Catalyst Polymeric Resins

CATALYSIS - Use of Polymeric Resins (pdf)

TREVERLYST Catalysts - Loading and Washing Procedure (pdf)

TREVERLITE and TREVERLYST Catalysts - Procedure for Storage in Original Package (pdf)

Examples of unsaturated and saturated fatty acids (page link)

Acrylic acid and methacrylic acid esters

One of the most important classes of organic acid esters are acrylates or methacrylates. They are widely used in solvent free paints, as copolymers, for transparent sheets and as superadsorbents in diapers.

Different TREVERLYST catalysts can be used for the different esters.

Acrylic acid and methacrylic acid esters

Acetic acid esters

Acetic acid esters are widely used in printing inks and adhesives. They are catalyzed at elevated temperatures of around 130-140°C.

Polymeric catalysts having an improved CO2 footprint are replacing more and more sulfuric acid.

Acetic acid esters consist mostly of C1-C4 alkyl groups such as:

  • Methyl acetate (C1): CH3COOCH3
  • Ethyl acetate (C2): CH3COOCH2CH3
  • n-propyl acetate (C3): CH3COOCH2CH2CH3
  • Isopropyl acetate (C4): CH3COOCH2CH2CH2CH3
  • Isobutyl acetate (C4): CH3COOCH2CH(CH3)2
Acrylic acid and methacrylic acid esters
Typical reactions

Fatty acid esters (biodiesel and natural detergent alcohol)

Biodiesel made from plant oils, used cooking oil and animal fat is replacing some of the diesel fuel. In many cases such oils contain a high level of fatty acids which have to be removed or converted into biodiesel.

Specific TREVERLYST of the CAT/RN100 and CAT/RN300 series catalysts have been developed to esterify fatty acids.

In some cases, the oleochemical industry fractionates specific fatty acids to their methyl esters and converts them through hydrogenolysis to the correspondent alcohol. TREVERLYST CAT500 series catalysts have been developed to be used in this process.

FAME (biodiesel)

 

Recommended TREVERLYST catalysts for esterification reaction:

Trademark Remarks
TREVERLYST CAT160 Porous structure. For use in fixed bed reactors. Can be used in MMA.
TREVERLYST CAT200 Gel type catalyst, very good selectivity. For use in fixed bed reactors. Typical reaction ethyl acetate.
TREVERLYST CAT360 Porous structure. Can be used up to < 150°C (300°F). Highest density of acid groups, specific pore size
distribution for longer alcohols and less by-products. Can be used in batch reactors and fixed bed reactors.
TREVERLYST CAT390 Porous structure for batch reactors and slurry loop reactors. Can be used in 2EHA and BA.
TREVERLYST CAT410 Thermal stability < 190°C (375°F).
TREVERLYST CAT500 series New development for selective esterification. High selectivity to the ester and suppression
of the formation of ethers.
TREVERLYST CAT/RN140 Esterification catalyst for biodiesel and long organic acids.
TREVERLYST CAT/RN300 Esterification catalyst for biodiesel.