H. Sawistowski, P. Pilavakis
1988
Citations
0
Influential Citations
24
Citations
Journal
Chemical Engineering Science
Abstract
Abstract A purpose-developed theoretical model was used to study the esterification of acetic acid by methanol in a reaction-distillation column. The effects of changing various operating parameters were predicted. The model showed that independent changes in several parameters should enhance the overall conversion. A further study indicated that by adding acetic acid as a separate stream, high in the distillation column, a product could be made with considerably higher methyl acetate concentration than that in the azeotrope. Subsequent redistillation in a second column could then separate pure methyl acetate and azeotrope for recycling.