Selection of an active zeolite catalyst and kinetics of vapor phase esterification of acetic acid with ethyl alcohol

Activity and selectivity of Azerbaijan natural clinoptilolite containing different amounts of zeolite (25.0, 44.0 and 89.0%); dealuminated and hydrogen forms of clinoptilolites prepared from Azerbaijan natural clinoptilolite containing 89.0% zeolite phase with silicate modulus X=SiO₂/Al₂O₃=8.6; Azerbaijan natural mordenite containing 75-80% zeolite phase with X=9.6 and its hydrogen forms; synthetic zeolites: NaY with X=4.3 and its hydrogen forms - NaHY; the commercial β zeolite with X=25.0; the commercial zeolite HZSM-5 with X=50.0 and HZSM-5 with X=25.0 have been tested in vapor phase reaction of esterification of acetic acid with ethyl alcohol. On the basis of the kinetic investigations the efficient catalyst, β zeolite with X= 25.0, has been selected for this reaction. It has been developed of the theoretical grounded kinetic model of the reaction on the catalyst, β zeolite that satisfactorily describe of experimental data. According to this model ethyl acetate is formed on acidic sites of the catalyst at interaction of strongly absorbed molecules of acetic acid with weak absorbed molecules of ethyl alcohol.