Synthesis of n-Butyl Acrylate with Sodium Bisulfate Supported on Active Carbon

n-Butyl acrylate was synthesized with acrylic acid and n-butyl alcohol as raw materials in the presence of sodium bisulfate supported on active carbon as catalyst. Factors influencing the product yield were discussed and optimum reaction conditions were determined. Experimental results showed that sodium bisulfate loaded on active carbon was an excellent catalyst. With the reaction conditions as molar ratio of acrylic acid to n-butyl alcohol = 1.0:1.5, dosage of catalyst at a range of 4.2% of the total reactants (net content of sodium bisulfate) , toluene as water carrier and reaction time 2 h, the esterification rate achieved 92.76%.