Abstract
The kinetics esterification of the methacrylic acid (MA) with ethylene oxide (EO), catalysed by polymer-supported ferric chloride, has been studied in a static reactor under quasi-stationary conditions. The temperature interval 50–90°C was investigated and the mole ratio of MA to EO was varied from 2:1 to 1:10. The catalyst amount was varied from 1 to 10 wt.-%. As a result a kinetic model of the reaction is proposed. The model corresponds to a single-site Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism. The rate-limiting step is a surface reaction. Optimum conditions for the esterification are 80°C, a mole ratio of MA to EO of 1:1 and 1–3 wt.-% catalyst.