EFFECTS OF PULSED ELECTRIC FIELD ON THE ESTERIFICATION REACTIONS

Abstract

The effects of alternative pulsed electric fields on the esterification reactions between acetic acid and different alcohols were investigated in this paper. The aim of this study was the synthesis of some esters using a new and ecological method. Only acetic acid and different alcohols were used as raw materials and an alternative pulsed electric field as accelerator. Also, the enzymatic synthesis of esters was performed in order to draw a conclusion on the effectiveness of the new proposed method. Gas chromatography analysis showed that the esterification was considerably enhanced by an alternative pulsed electric field. The highest amounts of ester were obtained for n-propyl acetate, significantly higher than in the case of enzymatic synthesis. The synthesis of i-butyl and i-amyl acetate using the alternative pulsed electric field shows the formation of lower amounts of ester, probably due to the conformation of the molecule. Using raw materials of natural origin (acetic acid and alcohols obtained, for example, by fermentation) in the presence of an alternative pulsed electric field, natural esters are obtained and they can be used without restrictions in pharma, food, perfume or cosmetic industry.