Study of fatty acid esterification under subcritical condition

Esterification of oleic acid with various alcohols under subcritical condition was studied.The profile of conversion of fatty acid with various alcohols was investigated under conditions of molar ratio of alcohol to oleic acid at 4∶1 and the reaction temperatures nearby critical point of the alcohol.The results showed that the reaction rate of esterification was significantly correlated to the variety,structure and the critical point of the alcohol.The shorter the straight alkyl chain of the alcohol,and the closer the reaction temperature to critical point of the alcohol,the higher the reaction rate.Reaction rate of straight chain alcohol is higher than that of branched chain alcohol,and the reaction rate of primary alcohol is higher than that of secondary alcohol.