Methyl Acetate Hydrolysis by Reactive Distillation

摘要

An azeotropic mixture of methyl acetate and water was processed by reactive distillation to produce acetic acid and methanol. Cationic exchange resin was used as a catalyst in the reaction zone of a packed column and the bottom section of the packed column was utilized as a stripping zone. Methyl acetate was fed to the bottom of the reaction zone while water was being fed to the top of the column. Methyl acetate content in the bottom product stream was practically negligible when the reactive distillation column was operated in the total-reflux mode. The main advantages of the novel process are savings of energy and equipment cost.