Synthesis of Banana Oil

Abstracts

The purpose of this experiment was to synthesize banana oil which is also known as Isopentyl acetate using isopentyl alcohol and acetic acid; and also obtaining the pure product which was determined by their boiling, IR and NMR. In this experiment synthesis of banana oil, it is carried out through fractional distillation which the products are obtained at different temperature and further test are carried out through IR and NMR .

Introduction Include applicable background information, a description of the purpose of the study,

The experiment was performed with the goal of synthesizing banana oil, obtain a pure product of isopentyl acetate from fractional distillation and IR. Acetic acid and isopentyl alcohol had to under Fischer esertification to obtained Isopentyl acetate (banana oil) with an acid used as a catalyst, the acid helps to increase the rate of the reaction but does not take part in the chemical reaction.

This reaction can be obtained through several steps; The reflux step which involves the alcohol and the acid heated and boiled in the condenser. The condenser is a tube which the boiling vapor from the chemical rise to and then cools down, and goes back into the flask and this is done with the aid of cold water running in-between the layer of the condenser; this helps to reduce the amount of vapor that is lost. The magnetic stirring rod was placed into the flask to facilitate the boiling. The arrangement of the glassware for the refluxing is as shown below.

The mixture obtained from the product was washed using 5mL of water ( the method used was the liquid-liquid extraction) and the aqueous organic layer was separated, then sodium bicarbonate was added to the test tube 2 different times, with the aid of the stoppering, the test tube was stirred and vented several times. When the test tube was allowed to settle down the end result was an aqueous layer salts from the acid and water, while the organic layer that was formed will contain ester. The bye product was alcohol, traces of water and some by-products. The sample of the organic layer is obtained and transferred and then dried with the solid magnesium sulfate, because magnesium salt is an anhydrous salt which will combine will water readily. The unwanted element is removed by gravity filtration. Distillation takes place which is done by utilizing a condenser. This is a method used for separating two or more liquids based on differences in boiling points of a mixture.

A thermometer is inserted for its tip to be right where the boiled vapor escaped, which enters the condenser and the vapor which turns to liquid forms on the condenser and it is dripped down through the vacuum adapter into the receiving flask.

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