[Seb]

I want to perform an experiment that would involve measuring the rate of formation for ethyl acetate (from ethanol and acetic acid) under different acid catalyzed conditions.
I want to know what my options are in terms of methods/equipment that would be able to measure the different concentrations of the solution at different intervals (or to measure aliquots at certain intervals). I am limited by the extent of professional equipment I am able to use, so cheaper (although less accurate) techniques would be preferable. Some potential options below:
- Spectroscopy: Would this work for a colorless solution?
- Chromatography: How can this be quantified into actual numbers?
- Titration: (acid concentration -> amount reacted?)
Appreciate any assistance

[rolnor]

NMR could work, or GC, a little bit problematic that your compounds have a very low boiling point, but this is not totally impossible to overcome.

[Borek]

- Spectroscopy: Would this work for a colorless solution?

IR (or UV). More expensive than visible light hardware.

- Chromatography: How can this be quantified into actual numbers?

TLC is of no use, but GC should definitely work. Although it won't be cheap.

- Titration: (acid concentration -> amount reacted?)

Tricky, as you have an excess acid in the mix (catalyst), and if it's concentration is high it can make determining amount of acetic acid impossible. Plus you need to be quick.

[tokaok2]

The reaction would be ethanol and acetic acid forming ethyl acetate, where ethanol is provided in excess. The main aim of the experiment would be determining the effectiveness of different acid catalysts, hence why I would like to measure the rate of reaction. The experiment would be performed under heat and with ideally with reflux condenser.

[Babcock_Hall]

Have you looked at articles in J. Chemical Education for anything similar?  If you used 4-nitrophenol as your alcohol, this would provide a UV/VIS handle to follow the reaction.