Studies on Synthesis of Benzyl Acetate Using Solid Superacid S_2O_8~(2-)/ZrO_2-Ce_2O_3 as Catalyst

Benzyl acetate was synthesized by the esterification of benzyl alcohol with acetic acid by using of a new type of rare_earth compound solid superacid S 2O 2- 8 /ZrO 2-Ce 2O 3 as catalyst.The results show that S 2O 2- 8 /ZrO 2- Ce 2O 3 had higher catalytic activity for the esterification reaction. The effects of benzyl alcohol/acetic acid molar ratio, the amount of catalyst used, reaction temperature and time, and the amount of cyclohexane used on the yield of benzyl acetate have been investigated. Under the typical reaction conditions(benzyl alcohol/acetic acid molar ratio is 1.15∶1,catalyst/acetic acid is 0.8?g∶0.30mol, reaction temperatureis 150℃,reaction time is 3.0?h,cyclohexane is 10?ml),the yield of the ester could reach 89.3%.The catalyst can be easily recovered and reused,and has very good activity stability on the esterification reaction of benzyl alcohol with acetic acid.