On the reaction of alcohols with bases
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Have you ever seen the reaction between propanol and sodium hydroxide at temperatures over 200 degrees and around 2 MPa? It is said that sodium propionate and hydrogen are produced; I’m not sure if this is true
How do you think this post will get viewed? Is it possible to run into someone you’ve met by chance?
Even if it’s feasible, it’s not very economical. n-Propanol: 11,200 per ton, propionic acid: 10,500, sodium hydroxide: 3,400
Buy some and give it a try on your own, and you’ll know!
It can react, and in terms of the intensity of the reaction based on the number of carbon atoms, the order is: methanol > ethanol > n-propanol > n-butanol. Also, the order is methanol > primary alcohols (ethanol, n-propanol) > secondary alcohols (isopropanol) > tertiary alcohols (tert-butyl alcohol); methanol exhibits the strongest effect, as it has high polarity and a high amount of hydroxyl groups. But what is produced is sodium alcohol, not sodium propionate. The original poster didn’t specify whether it was n-propanol or isopropanol, and there is a difference between the two.
Thank you. The process package that that design institute provided to the company is complete nonsense.