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Topic: P-toluenesulfonic acid to propionic acid?  (Read 1213 times)

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Offline lukas.stib

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P-toluenesulfonic acid to propionic acid?
« on: October 24, 2022, 01:35:15 PM »
Hi chemists,
I want to make propionic acid from propionates. I originally wanted to use sulfuric acid, but it is very strong (dehydrates the propionate), then I wanted to use phosphoric acid as an 85% solution. However, I would not have concentrated propionic acid (85%). I want to ask you, could I use p-toluenesulfonic acid with propionates? I believe it is not strong and dehydrating as sulfuric acid and I should get concentrated propionic acid. I just don't know the procedure, both substances are solid, so mix to a mixture and just heat?

Thank you. Lukáš S.

Offline Hunter2

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Re: P-toluenesulfonic acid to propionic acid?
« Reply #1 on: October 25, 2022, 01:13:08 AM »
You can dilute the sulfuric or the phosphoric and later, after adding to the Propionate do an Destillation. The boiling point of propionic acid is 141 ° C.
If toluensulfonic acid is a better choose I dont think so.

Offline Aldebaran

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Re: P-toluenesulfonic acid to propionic acid?
« Reply #2 on: October 25, 2022, 08:13:25 AM »
Bear in mind that propanoic acid forms an azeotropic mixture with water which boils at about 99°C.
It can be further concentrated by various extractive techniques which can be found on line.

Offline Hunter2

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Re: P-toluenesulfonic acid to propionic acid?
« Reply #3 on: October 25, 2022, 11:03:53 AM »
Even better need not so high temperature  then.
« Last Edit: October 25, 2022, 11:20:53 AM by Hunter2 »

Offline lukas.stib

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Re: P-toluenesulfonic acid to propionic acid?
« Reply #4 on: October 25, 2022, 11:15:49 AM »
Thank you very much. Can I dry a mixture of water and propionic acid using anhydrous sodium sulfate? It is said that propionic acid can be concentrated in this way.

Offline Aldebaran

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Re: P-toluenesulfonic acid to propionic acid?
« Reply #5 on: October 25, 2022, 01:29:27 PM »
The solution would contain a high  proportion of water. I think you would be better off using an extraction method first then when you have a high concentration of the acid it might lend itself to drying depending on what extraction method you use.
However I’ve not personally carried out this procedure with propanoic acid so I can’t give advice from personal experience.

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