"Enhancing Methyl Salicylate Production: A Comparative study of Esterification Conditions for Maximum Yield.

Abstract:

Methyl salicylate, commonly known as wintergreen oil, is an important ester. It has applications in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and flavoring agents. This study focuses on the synthesis of methyl salicylate from salicylic acid through esterification using methyl alcohol (methanol) and concentrated sulphuric acid as a catalyst. The reaction conditions, including temperature, reaction time and catalyst concentration were optimized to achieve maximum yield. The results indicate an efficient and high-yielding method for the synthesis of methyl salicylate, demonstrating its viability for laboratory scale production. This study demonstrates the practicality of esterification of methyl salicylate and highlights its significance in both academic and industrial applications.