Liquid lauric acid esterification

This section deals with the conceptual design of a catalytic distillation process for the esterification of lauric acid (LA) with 2-ethyl-hexanol (2EtH). Laboratory experiments showed that a superacid sulfated zirconia catalyst exhibits good activity over a large interval, from 130 to 180 °C with no ether formation. On the contrary, the catalyst is sensitive to the presence of free liquid water. Raw materials are lauric acid and 2-ethylhexyl alcohol of high purity. The conversion should be over 99.9%, because the product is aimed at cosmetic applications. 

Figure 8.15 Dual esterification of lauric acid with methanol and 2-ethyl-hexanol liquid concentration, reaction rate and temperature profiles.

Different ways of enhancing the solubility of polysaccharides in ionic liquids have been reported. Recently, ultrasound irradiation has been used to increase enzyme activity in lipase-catalysed esterifications of glucose with vinyl laurate or lauric acid in ILs [67]. It was found that ultrasound irradiation significantly enhances the enzyme activity probably due to an increase in the dissolution and mass transfer rates of substrates, without any loss in enzyme stability. 

Amet, Y. Berthou, K Menez, J. F. Simultaneous radiometric and fluorimetric detection of lauric acid metabolites using high-performance liquid chromatography following esterification with 4-bromomethyl-6,7-dimethoxycoumarin in human and rat liver miaosomes. J. Chromatogr., B Biomed. Appl. 1996,681,233-239. 

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