The esterification of acetic acid with n-butanol was studied in the presence of ion-exchange resin catalysts such as Amberlyst-15 to determine the intrinsic reaction kinetics. The effect of various parameters such as temperature, mole ratio, catalyst loading, and particle size was studied. Kinetic modeling was performed to obtain the parameters related to intrinsic kinetics. Pseudohomogeneous, Eley-Rideal, Langmuir-Hinshelwood-Hougen-Watson (LHHW), and modified LHHW models were developed. The kinetics for the side-reaction etherification was also investigated. The rate expressions would be useful in the simulation studies for reactive distillation. The experimental data generated for the reaction under total reflux were validated successfully using the developed rate equation and estimated values of kinetic parameters.

Kinetic analysis for the acid-catalyzed dimerization of C4 olefins was performed in a batch reactor, and a suitable rate model was developed. It was further used in the rate-based simulation model of a continuous reactive distillation (RD) column. The results obtained were compared with the experimental observations made on a pilot-scale high-pressure RD column. An important outcome of the present work is that RD can be used efficiently to enhance the selectivity of C8 dimers, thereby avoiding the formation of trimers and tetramers. The use of polar components (such as water or alcohols), as selectivity enhancers, is not necessary.