摘要或動機

Aspirin is one of the most used and well-known medicines world-wide. It can be synthesized by reacting acetic anhydride and salicylic acid in a warm temperature of around 60-80°C. This reaction is usually catalyzed by sulfuric or phosphoric acid. This paper will investigate alternative catalysts, safer and more environmentally friendly, as well as compare different synthesis methods with different heat mediums, one using a water bath and the other amicrowave. By doing so, the effects of the catalyst and the method of synthesis on the yield, purity and environmental consequence of crude aspirin synthesis will be deduced. The targeted utcome is to find the alternative method as more energy efficient, and to find a greener safer catalyst to sulfuric and phosphoric acid. Further background information, exploration, and explanation is in the appendix. The targeted outcome will be to find a viable alternative catalyst that is safer and more environmentally friendly, and to find that the microwave synthesis method consumes less energy.