Catalytic Synthesis of Amyl Butyrate over H-β Zeolite Modified with H_2SO_4

Amyl butyrate was synthesized using H-β zeolite modified with H 2SO 4 as a catalyst. The effects of some synthetic conditions on the esterification reaction of n-butyric acid with n-pentanol were investigated. The appropriate reaction conditions are as follows: the amount of catalyst=8.8g/mol n-butyric acid, mol n-butyric acid∶mol n-amyl alcohol=1∶1.2, the amount of cyclohexane=18mL/mol n-butyric acid, reaction temperature=157℃～165℃ and reaction time=3h. The conversion of n-butyric acid obtained under such reaction conditions was over 83%. The catalyst can be reused to give almost the same conversion of n-butyric acid as that given by the fresh catalyst.