Sulphonated Tea Waste Carbon Catalyzed Esterification of Propionic Acid with Ethyl Alcohol: Modulus and Rate Constant Estimation

In this research paper, sulphonated carbon catalyst was prepared from left over (used) tea waste obtained after extraction of tea. The surface morphology of sulphonated tea waste carbon catalyst (STWCC) was accomplished using FTIR, SEM and BET. The structure of catalyst was found porous and exhibited excellent catalytic properties. The surface area of STWCC was estimated as 381m2/g. Moreover, catalyst was abound with the existence of many functional elements and most of them belonged to electron withdrawing groups, whose presence can be availed in hindering the leaching of catalyst. STWCC was employed in the esterification of propionic acid and ethyl alcohol at 1 to 3% (wt/wt) catalyst concentration and at temperatures 328 to 348 K. It was observed that, the rate of reaction as well as conversion of propionic acid increased with increasing catalyst loading and reaction temperature. The values of effectiveness factor, porosity / tortuosity ratio was also estimated and obtained as 0.99, 0.2 respectively. The effective diffusivity of STWCC was estimated at different temperature. The internal as well as external diffusion limitation were determined by Weisz-Prater criterion and found to be absent. Concisely, the novelty of present work is claimed on the basis of source of tea waste available, legal aspects, cost and end product application. The previous researchers reported the cost of tea waste from processing industries approximately Rs 25 to 30 per kg. Whereas the leftover tea waste mentioned in the present work is available for free of cost. Moreover, industrial tea waste producers are bound to follow the various protocols of waste management. Furthermore, the yield and surface area of activated carbon reported by them was low. Another inference that can be drawn that all the previous research focused their attention on synthesis of the adsorbent for purification of biodiesel, wastewater, etc. Thus, we claim for the novelty to reuse leftover tea waste to synthesize catalyst and subsequently apply in the esterification of propionic acid.