ABSTRACT

2-Ethyl Hexyl Acrylate (2EHA) is one of the acrylate produced through the reaction of acrylic acid with 2- Ethylhexanol and is a highly demand acrylate by industry due to multiple uses in polymer production for example pressure-sensitive adhesives. The homogeneous catalysts, widely used in industry for decades, are strong mineral acid or basic and the reaction proceeds in liquid phase at moderate temperature and at moderate pressure. However, these homogeneous acid catalysts are toxic and corrosive and they are difficult to be removed from the reaction medium. Therefore, heterogeneous solid acid catalyst is more frequently used since it is easier to be handled and easy to be separated from products. Sulphated Ferum Promoted Zirconia (FSZ) is produced and characterized for further used in the production of 2-Ethyl Hexyl Acrylate under various operating condition. The catalyst loading, reaction temperature and molar ratio will be varied during the esterification reaction. The result obtained by X Ray Defraction technique (XRD) indicates that the catalyst presence of tetragonal phase. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis shows sulfate group was observed in the sample and acid strength is smaller than sulphated zirconia. The optimum catalyst loading for acrylate production is 1.0 wt%, reaction temperature is 110C and molar ratio of acid to alcohol is 1:2. Better conversion and better thermal stability will improve the production performance of 2-Ethyl Hexyl Acrylate (2EHA) in industry by using this solid catalyst.