Catalytic Synthesis of n-butyl Acetate over Surface Modified SiO2 as a Facile Catalyst

Dominic Savio Dias, Carolina F. E. Fernandes

Abstract: n-Butyl acetate was being synthesized using SiO2 whose surface was modified using Nitric acid. The percentage conversion of the acetic acid was found to be ~57% with acid to alcohol mole ratio of 2:1. The catalyst was characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, XRD analysis and PZC value was being determined. Kinetic studies were carried out to determine the order of the reaction and the activation energy which revealed the esterification reaction to be a second order reaction.

Keywords: Ecofriendly Catalysis, SiO2, Solid acid, Esterification, Kinetic studies