Abstract:
In this effort, the batch reactive distillation performance was studied by the production of butyl acetate in a batch packed bed reactive distillation column. Esterification of butan-1-ol with acetic acid to produce butyl acetate and water with homogenous hydrochloric acid as a catalyst was considered. This system was chosen because the reaction is reversible and the boiling point of reactants and products are different. The reaction was carried out with and without a distillation column and shows that the reactive distillation is more efficient from the conventional process (reactor and then separation). The concentration of butyl acetate increases from 12.38% to 31.74% at the best condition of feed mole ratio of 2.
Citation:
Mahar, M.M.M., Nizmy, M.N.M., & Gunasekara, M. (2019). Study of performance of packed bed reactive distillation column for the esterification process [Extended Abstract]. In P.G. Rathnasiri (Ed.), Undergraduate Research Symposium Chemical and Process Engineering 2019 (pp. 23-25). Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Moratuwa.