LAUSR

Abstract This work reports on the esterification kinetics of carboxylic acids of different chain lengths (valeric, caprylic, lauric and oleic acids) and an industrial mixture of distillate fatty acids (MDFA) using supercritical ethanol. The kinetic experiments were performed in a continuous PFR-type reactor (22 mL) under fixed conditions of temperature and pressure. The experimental kinetics were obtained at temperatures of 220, 250 and 280 °C, ethanol to fatty acid molar ratio (MR) of 6:1 and 9:1 and fixed pressure of 100 bar and modeled considering the acid self-catalyzed approach. The kinetic behavior was similar for the different carboxylic/fatty acids at supercritical conditions of ethanol. The results showed high conversions (around 90%) for all samples: valeric, caprylic, lauric, oleic and for the distillate fatty acid mixture at 280 °C, MR of 6:1 and 100 bar.