Reactive distillation using an ion-exchange catalyst: Experimental and simulation studies for the production of methyl acetate

Abstract

In this study, the performance of a packed-bed reactive distillation (RD) column for the production of methyl acetate (MeOAc) using an ion-exchange catalyst and simulation of the same using CHEMCAD were analyzed. An ion-exchange catalyst, Indion 190, was used in this study. The performance of the RD column was evaluated based on the MeOAc concentration in the top product. Both steady- and unsteady-state behavior of the column was simulated using CHEMCAD, and the results were experimentally validated. The process parameters, viz., reboiler temperature, enriching temperature, reactor temperature, catalyst loading, molar ratio of the reactant, and flow rate of reactants, were studied, and the optimal values were found to be 73 C, 56 C, 72 C, 100 g, 1:2, and 15 mL/min, respectively. Feed locations of acid and alcohol to the reactor that gave maximum MeOAc concentration in the top product were determined. A mathematical model based on the rigorous calculation using SCDS (used to calculate the nonideal K value) was used to simulate the RD in CHEMCAD. The simulated values were found to deviate from the experimental values within 5-10%. 2013 American Chemical Society.