The scale-up of reactive distillation columns with catalytic packings requires the knowledge of reaction kinetics, phase equilibrium and packing characteristics. Therefore, pressure drop, liquid holdup and separation efficiency have been determined for the catalytic packing MULTIPAK(R). A new hydrodynamic model that describes the countercurrent gas-liquid flow for the whole loading range and considers the influence of the column diameter has been implemented into a rate-based column model. Simulation results for the methyl acetate synthesis are compared with pilot plant experiments that cover a wide range of different process conditions. The experiments are in good agreement with the simulation results and confirm the applicability of the modelling approach for reactive distillation processes with catalytic packings. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.