Synthesis of n-butyl acetate catalyzed by solid super acids

N-butyl acetate was synthesized from glacial acetic acid and n-butyl alcohol using solid super acid S_2O~(2-)_8/ZrO_2 and SO~(2-)_4/ZrO_2 , respectively, as the catalysts. Influence of glacial acetic acid to n-butyl alcohol mole ratio, reaction time, reaction temperature, catalyst dosage and catalyst calcination temperature was investigated. The optimum reaction condition was obtained as follows; glacial acetic acid to nbutyl alcohol molar ratio 1. 0:1.3, catalyst dosage 3% of the mass of glacial acetic acid, reaction temperature 115 ℃ , reflux for 30 min. Esterification rate of 96. 5% and 90. 5% was obtained over S_2O~(2-)_8/ZrO_2 and SO~(2-)_4/ZrO_2 , respectively.