Abstract In this study, methanol and benzoic acid were esterified in a batch reactor with concentrated sulfuric acid as catalyst to prepare methyl benzoate. The suitable catalyst dosage, the molar ratio of alcohol to acid and the reaction temperature were determined through the process experiment. The results showed that when the reaction temperature was 353.15 K, the amount of catalyst accounted for 15% of the total mass of benzoic acid and the molar ratio of methanol to benzoic acid was 3: 1, the conversion of benzoic acid was relatively higher when the reaction time was 4 h. The kinetic data in the range of 333.15-353.15 K were measured and the kinetic equation of the esterification reaction was calculated by the regression of the reaction data which provided kinetic data support for the new reactor design, production process optimization and reaction distillation process design.
