Asian Journal of Advances in Research

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 90^oC 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 60^oC, 70^oC, 80^oC and 90^oC, 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 80^oC. On the other hand, at 1.0 g/L catalyst loading, the maximum yield of the product was obtained at 80^oC. 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.