Liquid-Phase Aldol Condesation of Acetaldehyde and Its Kinetics
1.Department of Chemistry, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China;2.Shanghai Research Institute of Petrochemical Technology, SINOPEC, Shanghai 201208, China
Abstract The catalytic performance of different catalysts, KOH, NaOH, Na2CO3, mixed alkalis of NaOH and Na2CO3, triethylamine, and anionic exchange resin, in aldol condensation of acetaldehyde, were examined. The effects of solution pH level and reaction temperature on the reaction extent were investigated. The results indicate that a relatively constant pH level could be maintained with Na2CO3 as the catalyst. The reaction has a high conversion and a high selectivity at the reaction temperature of 35 ℃ and the pH range of 11-12. Kinetic studies were then carried out with Na2CO3 as the catalyst at different reaction temperatures and pH levels. The kinetic equations and the corresponding parameters were finally obtained for pH level of 10.4, 11.0, and 11.4, respectively. The activation energy at pH value of 11.4 is the lowest.
