Hydrolysis conditions of methyl acrylate

The hydrolysis conditions of methyl acrylate in water usually require the addition of an acid catalyst, and the specific conditions depend on the requirements for controlling the reaction rate and hydrolysis degree.
A commonly used hydrolysis condition for methyl acrylate is under acidic conditions. Common acidic catalysts include sulfuric acid (H2SO4), phosphoric acid (H3PO4), hydrochloric acid (HCl), etc. At the laboratory scale, methyl acrylate can be dissolved in water and an appropriate amount of acid catalyst can be added. The reaction can be stirred at room temperature for several hours or tens of hours to observe the progress of hydrolysis reaction and the generation of products.
In addition, hydrolysis reactions can sometimes be carried out under high temperature conditions to promote reaction rate and degree of hydrolysis. Under these conditions, it is generally necessary to use high-temperature resistant acid catalysts such as sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, etc., and conduct the reaction in a closed container.
It should be noted that the hydrolysis reaction of methyl acrylate is a reversible reaction, and the hydrolysis products are acrylic acid and methanol. Therefore, after the reaction is complete, the desired acrylic acid and methanol products can be obtained through purification and separation techniques.