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Mysterious ethyl sulfate: How did it become a key player in ethanol production?
In discussions of ethanol production, ethyl sulfate, a little-known organic compound, began to surface. While its name may not be well known, the role it plays in chemical reactions cannot be ignored. The chemical structure of ethyl sulfate makes it a key intermediate in the production of ethanol from ethylene, and many scientists have already begun to study its properties and applications.
Ethyl sulfate was recognized as an intermediate product in the reaction between water and ethanol, a discovery that established its importance in chemistry.
Historical context
The history of ethyl sulfate can be traced back to 1730, when the German alchemist August Sigmund Frobenius first compared it to ethers. Later, French chemists Foulcroix in 1797 and Gay-Lussac in 1815 studied it. By 1807, Swiss scientist Nicolas-Theodore de Saussure also began exploring it.
In 1827, French chemists Felix-Polydor Blaye and Jean-Baptiste-André Dumas jointly pointed out that ethyl sulfuric acid reacts with sulfuric acid and ethanol to form diethyl ether. Has a role. Later, German chemist Erhard Michellich and Swedish chemist Johns Bergelius conducted further research, mentioning the catalytic effect of sulfuric acid, and finally confirmed the status of ethyl sulfuric acid as an intermediate product.
In the 19th century, with the research on electrochemistry by Italian physicist Alessandro Volta and British chemist Humphry Davy, it was confirmed that the reaction of sulfuric acid in ethanol would produce ether and Water, and ethyl sulfate are key intermediates in this process.
Production of Ethyl Sulfate
The production of ethanol relies primarily on the sulfuric acid hydration reaction, in which ethylene reacts with sulfuric acid to form ethyl sulfate, which is then hydrolyzed. However, this traditional method has been mostly replaced by direct hydration of ethylene in recent years. Ethyl sulfate can be prepared in the laboratory by slowly boiling ethanol with sulfuric acid at temperatures not exceeding 140°C.
If the temperature exceeds 140°C, the ethyl sulfuric acid produced will react with the residual ethanol to form diethyl ether. When the reaction conditions are such that sulfuric acid is in excess and the temperature exceeds 170°C, ethylsulfate will decompose into ethylene and sulfuric acid.During the reaction, sulfuric acid is added dropwise because the reaction is exothermic and may cause overheating.
Chemical reaction of ethyl sulfate
The formation mechanism of ethyl sulfate, diethyl ether, and ethylene is based on the reaction of ethanol with sulfuric acid, which involves the protonation of the ethanol oxygen to form nickel ions. Ethyl sulfate accumulates in the hair of chronic drinkers, and its detection can serve as a biomarker for alcohol consumption.
Ethyl sulfate in salt form
Ethyl sulfate exists in a variety of salt forms, such as sodium ethyl sulfate, potassium ethyl sulfate and calcium ethyl sulfate. These salts can be formed by addition to the corresponding carbonates or bicarbonates. For example, ethyl sulfate and potassium carbonate can produce potassium ethyl sulfate and potassium bicarbonate.
The reaction process demonstrates the application potential of ethyl sulfate and its salts, further promoting researchers' exploration of their diversity and practicality.
Looking to the future
With the advancement of science and technology, the application of ethyl sulfate will not be limited to the production of ethanol. In the future, more research may be conducted on it in other chemical reactions or biomarkers. As an important compound, will the various possibilities triggered by the discovery of ethyl sulfate become a new hotspot for further research?
