A New Strategy to Synthesize Pentyl 2-hydroxy Benzoate from Renewable Gmelina arborea Leaves

A new strategic method was used to synthesize pentyl 2- hydroxybenzoate from renewable Gmelina arborea waste leaves. This new strategy is “hydrothermal decomposition using barium chloride catalyst. The reactions were carried out at 60, 70, 80 and 90oC for 30 minutes reaction time using 0.5 g/L and 1.0 g/L catalyst loading. The products were analyzed using Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS). The yield of pentyl 2-hydroxybenzoate obtained using 0.5 g/L catalyst loading was 575.8 mg/g, 431.2 mg/g, 297.6 mg/g and 390.6 mg/g at 60oC, 70oC, 80oC and 90oC, respectively. The obtained results using 1.0 g/L catalyst loading were 370.8 mg/g, 368.2 mg/g, 427.2 mg/g and 248.8 mg/g, respectively. Within the experimental conditions and at 0.5 g/L catalyst loading, the minimum yield of pentyl 2-hydroxybenzoate was obtained at 80oC. On the other hand, at 1.0 g/L catalyst loading, the maximum yield of the product was obtained at 80oC. The new method is therefore effective, it is cost-effective because it utilizes waste and it is safe because the raw materials are chemically harmless. The method is less time-consuming when compared with the traditional methods.