Optimization of coproduction of ethyl acetate and n-butyl acetate by reactive distillation

doi:10.1016/j.cjche.2014.12.007

Abstract

Abstract: Based on a previous investigation, a simulationmodelwas used for optimization of coproduction of ethyl acetate and n-butyl acetate by reactive distillation. An experimental setupwas established to verify the simulated results. The effects of various operating variables, such as ethanol feed location, acetic acid feed location, feed stage of reaction mixture of acetic acid and n-butanol, reflux ratio of ethyl acetate reactive distillation column, and distillate to feed ratio of n-butyl acetate column, on the ethanol/n-butanol conversions, ethyl acetate/n-butyl acetate purity, and energy consumption were investigated. The optimal results in the simulation study are as follows: ethanol feed location, 15th stage; acetic acid feed location, eighth stage; feed location of reactionmixture of acetic acid and n-butanol, eighth stage; reflux ratio of ethyl acetate reactive distillation column, 2.0; and distillate to feed ratio of n-butyl acetate, 0.6.

Key words: Reactive distillation, Ethyl acetate, n-Butyl acetate, Coproduction, Simulation, Optimization

摘要： Based on a previous investigation, a simulationmodelwas used for optimization of coproduction of ethyl acetate and n-butyl acetate by reactive distillation. An experimental setupwas established to verify the simulated results. The effects of various operating variables, such as ethanol feed location, acetic acid feed location, feed stage of reaction mixture of acetic acid and n-butanol, reflux ratio of ethyl acetate reactive distillation column, and distillate to feed ratio of n-butyl acetate column, on the ethanol/n-butanol conversions, ethyl acetate/n-butyl acetate purity, and energy consumption were investigated. The optimal results in the simulation study are as follows: ethanol feed location, 15th stage; acetic acid feed location, eighth stage; feed location of reactionmixture of acetic acid and n-butanol, eighth stage; reflux ratio of ethyl acetate reactive distillation column, 2.0; and distillate to feed ratio of n-butyl acetate, 0.6.

关键词: Reactive distillation, Ethyl acetate, n-Butyl acetate, Coproduction, Simulation, Optimization

Hui Tian, Suying Zhao, Huidong Zheng, Zhixian Huang. Optimization of coproduction of ethyl acetate and n-butyl acetate by reactive distillation[J]. Chin.J.Chem.Eng., 2015, 23(4): 667-674.

Hui Tian, Suying Zhao, Huidong Zheng, Zhixian Huang. Optimization of coproduction of ethyl acetate and n-butyl acetate by reactive distillation[J]. Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2015, 23(4): 667-674.

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