Continuous production of ethyl lactate by esterifying lactic acid with ethanol, comprises using a flash column and distillation column for product recovery

摘要

Continuous production of ethyl lactate comprises esterifying lactic acid with ethanol until the lactic acid conversion is 80% or less, distilling the reaction mixture in a flash column, recycling the bottoms stream from the flash column to the esterification reactor, and distilling the overhead stream from the flash column to produce and overhead stream of ethanol and water and a bottoms stream of ethyl lactate. Continuous production of ethyl lactate comprises esterifying lactic acid with ethanol in an initial ethanol/lactic acid molar ratio of at least 2.5 in the presence of a catalyst at 50-90 degrees C and atmospheric pressure until the lactic acid conversion is 80% or less, distilling the reaction mixture in a flash column at 80-90 degrees C and up to 65 mbar, recycling the bottoms stream from the flash column to the esterification reactor, and distilling the overhead stream from the flash column at atmospheric pressure to produce and overhead stream of ethanol and water and a bottoms stream of ethyl lactate with a water content allowing subsequent purification. An Independent claim is also included for ethyl lactate produced as above with a water content of 0.3% or less.