Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
6-30-1966
Degree Name
Master of Science in Chemical Engineering - (M.S.)
Department
Chemical Engineering and Chemistry
First Advisor
Saul I. Kreps
Second Advisor
John E. McCormick
Third Advisor
Michael Frederick
Abstract
The acid catalyzed hydrolysis of butyl lactate with water, using lactic acid to achieve a homogeneous solution, was studied.
Experiments at various temperatures were run under catalyzed and uncatalyzed conditions. The course of the hydrolysis was followed by titrating the acidity of the reaction mass at certain time intervals. From the results of these titrations and from the experimental determinations of the equilibrium constant, the reaction velocity constants for the hydrolysis of butyl lactate were calculated. The velocity constants were found to range from .8 x 10-5 to 25 x 10-5 liters/ (g-mole)(min), depending upon the reaction temperature and the concentration of catalyst. The temperature was varried in the experiments from 40 to 80°C, and the catalyst concentration from 0 to .01897 g-moles/kg. of charge.
From the reaction velocity constants, and the temperatures used in the experiments, the energies of activation for the acid catalyzed hydrolysis were determined. The values of the activation energies were found to be 16,000; 17,500 and 18,300 calories/g-mole, at catalyst concentrations of .01897; .01265 and .00632 g-moles/kg of charge, respectively.
Recommended Citation
Pommers, Peter, "Kinetics of hydrolysis of butyl lactate" (1966). Theses. 2966.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/2966
