The goal of this research was synthesis of glycerol acetates in batch, semi-continuous continuous systems from transesterification of glycerol with ethylacetate in the presence of acid catalysts. Paratoluenesulfunic acid, Amberlist 36 and Sulfuric acid were used as catalysts. Optimization of effective parameters on reaction progress, including catalyst type and amount (2.5-9.0% w/w proportional to glycerol), reactants mol ratio (6/1-12/1 of ethylacetate/glycerol) and reaction time (3-9 hours), was performed in batch system. Reflux was done at constant temperature of 70 . Reaction was started with 12/1 ethyl acetate/glycerol mol ratio by using 4.5% w/w of sulfuric acid as catalyst and after 7 hours of reaction, 92%, 53%, 40%, 7% and 0% were obtained for monoacetin, diacetin, triacetin and by-products selectivity respectively, glycerol conversion. The feasibility of transesterification of ethylacetate with glycerol in the semi-continuous system was investigated at the optimum conditions obtained from batch system. Ethyl acetate was passed through reaction medium at reflux conditions. After 18 hours, 25% and 75% selectivity were obtained for diacetin and triacetin, respectively. Finally, continuous synthesis of glycerol acetates from transesterification of ethylacetate with glycerol was studied and products of the performed reaction at the optimum condition in the batch system, was used as feed. The feed was crossed along the continuous system at temperature of 120 with flow rate of 0.2 ml/min. Selectivities of 45%, 47% and 8% were obtained for monoacetine, diacetine and triacetine, respectively with glycerol conversion of 99%.
