Author(s) :

Egbosiuba, T. C.

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Abstract :

This research presents the report of the optimization of esterification process using 2 4 factorial design to study the effects of temperature, mole ratio of bioethanol to ethanoic acid, catalyst concentration and esterification time on the yield of ethyl ethanoate. A maximum yield of 98 % of ethyl ethanoate was obtained at the temperature of 65 ℃, mole ratio of bioethanol to ethanoic acid of 2: 1, catalyst concentration of 0.25 𝑤𝑡 % and esterification time of 90 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑠. Design expert software utilized in the statistical analysis of 2 4 factorial design indicates that esterification time and temperature had the highest effect of 58.50 and 17 respectively. The model equation developed with the aid of the statistical tool was given as 𝑌𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑=58.00 + 8.50 𝐴 - 3.13 𝐵 - 1.75 𝐶 + 29.25 𝐷 - 0.38 𝐴𝐵 + 0.00 𝐴𝐶 - 0.50 𝐴𝐷 + 0.37 𝐵𝐶 + 0.87 𝐵𝐷 +0.50 𝐶𝐷0.12 𝐴𝐵𝐶+ 0.88 𝐴𝐵𝐷+0.50 𝐴𝐶𝐷-0.12 𝐵𝐶𝐷+0.12 𝐴𝐵𝐶𝐷 with A, B, C and D representing temperature, mole ratio, catalyst concentration and time respectively. Characterization of the produced ethyl ethanoate was carried out to determine the kinematic viscosity, specific gravity, flash point, refractive index, sulphur content, water content and compared with the ASTM standard. FT-IR analysis was carried out on the ethyl ethanoate samples which yielded the functional groups of the compounds in the produced ethyl ethanoate.

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