Catalytic synthesis of ethyl stearate over active carbon supported phosphotungstic acid

Ethyl stearate was synthesized using stearic acid and anhydrous ethanol as raw materials and active carbon supported phosphotungstic acid as the catalyst.Influence of the catalyst kinds and dosage, molar ratio of stearic acid/anhydrous ethanol,reaction time and water carrying agents was investigated. The results showed that esterification rate of 85.57% was attained under the reaction condition as follows:n(stearic acid):n(anhydrous ethanol)=1:8,catalyst dosage 1.2 g[5.22% of the mass of the total reactants(phosphotungstic acid net content 1.95%)],cyclohexane as water carrying agent,reaction temperature(80-85)℃ and reaction time 4 h.