Optimization of Acid Activated Ngbo Clay Catalysts in Esterification Reaction Using Response Surface Methodology

In this study, Box-Behnken”s Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was applied to study the esterification reaction effectiveness of acid activated Ngbo clay catalyst. The were monitored based on process conditions temperature, duration, amount reactant, catalyst weight and particle size. Box--Behnken’s indicates that clay-catalysed reactions proceed through dual mechanisms Acid-complex Alcohol-complex with Alcohol mechanism dominating. efficiencies acetic ethanol by optimized using RSM models indicated estimated percentage ˃99%. predicted experimental values under same showed less than 5% difference thereby making Box-Behnken design approach an efficient, effective reliable method for ethanol. produced A-One way ANOVA modelling, which correlation coefficient regression 0.9940, implies 99.40% total variation in attributed variables. result obtained could be avoid drawbacks corrosion, loss environmental problems.