Indonesian Journal of Chemistry and Environment
Vol. 8 No. 1 (2025): JUNE 2025

Synthesis of Methyl Citronellate through Fischer Esterification Reaction between Methanol and Citronellic Acid from Oxidation Product of Citronellal

Wahyono, Joko (Unknown)
Budimarwanti, Cornelia (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
02 Nov 2025

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to synthesis methyl citronellate through Fischer esterification reaction between methanol and citronellic acid from oxidation product of citronellal and characterize the methyl citronellate of esterification product by TLC method, IR spectroscopy, and GC-MS. This research was started by oxidizing citronellal to citronellic acid using silver oxide (Ag2O) oxidator obtained from reaction between silver nitrate (AgNO3) with sodium hydoxide (NaOH) and oxidation reaction at temperature of 55-60oC for 35 minutes. Then, the oxidation product of citronellal was reacted with methanol through Fischer esterification reaction using concentrated sulfuric acid (H2SO4) catalyst at 46oC for 2 hours. The products of citronellal oxidation and esterification were identified using TLC, IR spectrophotometer, and GC-MS. The result of this research showed that the Fischer esterification reaction between methanol with citronellic acid from oxidation product of citronellal was produce methyl citronellate in the form of brownish yellow liquid and smelled fragrant. The result of methyl citronellate from esterification product characterization by using TLC method, IR spectroscopy, and GC-MS showed that the methyl citronellate has a purity of 17 % and a yield of 13.76 %.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

ijoce

Publisher

Subject

Biochemistry, Genetics & Molecular Biology Chemical Engineering, Chemistry & Bioengineering Chemistry Civil Engineering, Building, Construction & Architecture Materials Science & Nanotechnology

Description

Articles are welcome that deal with theoretical analysis, meta-anaysis reviews, and result of research or empirical studies from all aspect of Chemistry and Environment. Reports on new methodologies and comprehensive assessments of existing ones, as well as applications to new types of problems are ...