Esterification of lauric acid with isopropyl alcohol by tricaprylylmethylammonium chloride as a catalyst in a liquid-liquid heterogeneous system

Experiments were performed on the esterification of lauric acid with isopropyl alcohol by tricaprylylmethylammonium chloride in a stirred vessel with a flat liquid-liquid interface. The observed initial rate of reaction was used to analyze the reaction mechanism combined with the catalyst, and to evaluate the several kinds of reaction rate constant, from which equilibrium constants were expressed as a function of reaction temperature. The analysis of reaction kinetics indicated that the reaction was between a very slow and slow reaction regime.