Simulation Study of Methyl Acetate Synthesis in Distillation Column with External Side Reactors

Methyl acetate synthesized in a distillation with side reactors was simulated with Aspen Plus.The influence of device parameters and operation condition,such as feed location,reflux ratio,n(MeOH)/n(HAc) and number of side reactors,were investigated.The results showed the distillation column with side reactors had the same effect as the traditional reactive distillation process,while the further reactive distillation process had simpler column structure and without using H2SO4 as catalysts.These calculated results would provide a basis for the design of methyl acetate distillation column with side reactors.