Cleaner Production of Methyl Benzoate Using Solid Heterogenous Catalyst via Electromagnetic Waves as an Energy Source

Abstract

Methyl benzoate (MB) is synthesized in a batch reactor conventionally and with the use of microwave (MW) energy as a source of heat. MW-assisted esterification has added advantage of competent energy use in volumetric region which provides a safe, economic and green method of heating. In microwave-assisted MB esterification, the amount of solvent is minimized. Also this work aims to study the product distribution and selectivity using heterogeneous zeolite Hβ catalyst. The esterification is studied by variation in operating conditions such as reaction time, feed composition, microwave energy and reaction temperature. It has been found that 88% conversion of BA with 74% selectivity of MB is formed using a conventional batch reactor, while with the use of MW energy as a source of heating, at 70 °C, 300 W MW power, 99.99% conversion of BA was achieved within 10 min with the highest selectivity of 86% using sulfuric acid and 67% of MB using Hβ catalyst, respectively.