Developing biotechnological methods
to produce glycolic acid and
alkyl glycolates requires knowledge of thermophysical and thermodynamic
data. Vapor pressures of linear alkyl glycolates HO–CH2–COO–(CH2)
n
–H with n = 1–8 were determined
by the transpiration method. Standard molar enthalpies of vaporization
at experimental temperature and at 298.15 K were derived from the
temperature dependence of the vapor pressure. The critical temperatures
and pressures of alkyl glycolates were measured by the pulse-heating
method. The experimental data were successfully checked for internal
consistency. Molar heat capacity of atmospheric pressure for liquid
esters was measured by the method of differential scanning calorimetry
in the temperature range 303–423 K. The molar liquid heat capacities
at 298.15 K and atmospheric pressure of alkyl glycolates were calculated
from the result of this work. The measured values were used for estimating
prediction capabilities of group-contribution methods by Constantinou
and Gani, Marrero and Gani, and Hukkerikar et al. for critical properties
and Chickos and Acree, Domalski and Hearing, and Ceriani et al. for
heat capacity at 298.15 K. Results of this study could be used for
the design and optimization of the chemical processes of the utilization
of renewable feedstock.