Esterification of acetic acid with n-butanol over manganese nodule leached residue

Manganese nodule leached residue (MNLR) was obtained as waste material after selective extraction of Cu, Co and Ni from Indian Ocean manganese nodule. MNLR was washed with water to remove sulphate and other impurities present in its surface. The catalytic activity of the waste material was tested for liquid phase esterification of acetic acid with n-butanol. The effect of reaction time, catalyst amount, temperature and mole ratio of reactants on esterification was studied to optimize the reaction conditions. Water-washed manganese nodule leached residue (WMNLR) calcined at 400 degrees C shows highest catalytic activity with 76.6% conversion having 100% selectivity towards n-butyl acetate. Esterification reaction follows first order kinetics with respect to acid and 0th order with respect to n-butanol. Conversion Of C-1 -C-4 aliphatic acids with n-butanol follows the following order: formic > acetic > proponoic > n-butyric. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.