Continuous Flow Science in an Undergraduate Teaching Laboratory: Synthesis of Ethylene Glycol Diacetate Using Heterogeneous Catalysts in Continuous Flow

The laboratory experiment regarding esterification of ethylene glycol with acetic acid to ethylene glycol diacetate using resin catalysts in a continuous flow was designed to carry out the reaction in a flow through an inquiry-guided approach. Incorporating the burgeoning field of continuous flow chemistry into the educational infrastructure, the experiment showed the practical application of heterogeneous catalysts in continuous flow synthesis. In a discussion of the importance of continuous flow chemistry and heterogeneous catalysis, students were encouraged to seek effective, sustainable, and environmentally friendly approaches to synthesize compounds.