Analysis of Phase Equilibrium and Reaction of the Aldol Condensation Reaction System

The phase equilibrium of aldol condensation reaction between citral and acetone catalyzed by aqueous sodium hydroxide solution was studied. Some phase diagrams of acetone-citral-water system snd acetone-pseudoinone-water system were presented, while the solubility curves of acetone-citral-water containing a few percent of sodiun hydroxide were measured by an improved gradual titration method. According to the results obtained, the mechanism of this aldol condensation reaction was analysed.