Cold plasma as a novel technique for production of isoamyl acetate at room temperature: Optimization and kinetic study

This research aimed to synthesize isoamyl acetate by cold plasma technique. The effect of different molar ratios of acetic acid to isoamyl alcohol and different catalysts on the production of isoamyl acetate by cold plasma technique was compared with that of conventional heating. In the cold plasma technique, the best molar ratio of isoamyl alcohol: acetic acid was 1:2. Also, Amberlyst 15 dry showed higher efficiency than those of Amberlyst 36 wet and Novozyme 435. The production of isoamyl acetate followed the Eley Rideal model. The rate constant of isoamyl acetate production using the cold plasma technique at 25 °C was significantly higher (513.33 ± 0.10 mol/g min) than that of the conventional heating technique (194.94 ± 0.85 mol/g min) at 60 °C. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that cold plasma technique caused partial catalyst destruction after 5 times being reused. • Isoamyl acetate was produced by cold plasma technique with high purity. • Cold plasma technuiqe showed higher reaction rate constant than conventional heating technique. • Production of isoamyl acetate by Amberlyst 15 dry obeyed Eley Rideal model. • Cold plasma technique caused partial destruction of Amberlyst 15 dry. • Amberlyst 15 dry was more effective than Novozym 435 and Amberlyst 36 wet.