Process Overview

Reactive distillation of ethanol and acetic acid to produce ethyl acetate and water. The reaction occurs in the distillation column to shift equilibrium toward ester formation while enabling in-situ separation of water.

Process Type

Reactive Distillation

Main Reaction

Ethanol + Acetic Acid ⇄ Ethyl Acetate + Water

Target Product

Ethyl Acetate (≥ 99.0 mol%)

By-product

Water (overhead)

Key Unit Ops

1 Reactive Distillation Column, 1 Condenser, 1 Reboiler

Recommended Settings

Thermodynamic Package

Recommended

NRTL

Property Method

NRTL (Liquid) / Ideal (Vapor)

Estimated Stages

28 including condenser

Feed Stages

Ethanol: 8, Acetic Acid: 12

Operating Pressure

1.20 bar(a)

Reboiler Duty (Est.)

4.10 MW

Condenser Duty (Est.)

1.25 MW

Assumptions

• Steady-state operation
• Isobaric column at 1.20 bar(a)
• No pressure drop
• Ideal vapor phase
• NRTL for liquid phase thermodynamics
• No azeotrope identified at 1.20 bar(a)
• Feeds are in liquid phase
• Negligible heat losses
• No side reactions