Chemical Engineering Communications, Vol.207, No.1, 109-122, 2020
Simulation studies on homogenously catalyzed finishing reactive distillation for ethyl acetate production
A finishing reactive distillation (RD) column (50 stage), used for enhanced ethanol conversion, in an ethyl acetate production plant was simulated. This RD column followed a pre-reactor, wherein, homogeneously catalyzed esterification reaction for the production of ethyl acetate using acetic acid and ethanol was carried out. The simulation results of the RD column using equilibrium and rate-based models are compared with the plant data. The column design data for tray holdup, required for the rate-based model, was used. Effects of some design and operation parameters of the simulation results are also discussed.
Keywords:Equilibrium model;esterification plant data;ethyl acetate;rate-based model;reactive distillation