Study On The Catalytic Distillation Process Of N-butyl Acetate Produced By Transesterification

Comparing with otherhomologous ester, the market demand for methyl acetate is smaller,and it is often used as a by-product.Because of its excellent solubility property,n-butyl acetate gradually become a substitute for poisonous and harmful solvents such as toluene, xylene,so the market is prospect.In this paper, methyl acetate will be converted into n-butyl acetate by transesterification, which can provide a more efficient use of methyl acetate.In this paper,after Si-3 catalyst was screened out as optimal catalyst,the process of n-butyl acetate produced by transeterification in a batch stirred tank reactor was experimentally studied.The factor of speed, reaction temperature, reactant ratio, and the amount of catalyst was determined.Fitting the experiment data for transeterification dynamics equation:r=6291exp(-53643/RT)(αMeOAcαBu OH-αMEOHαBuOAc/K)K=exp(4.15-1.667/T)On the basis of dynamics research, process simulation was done by Aspen Plus, respectivelyexaminedtheoretical stages, feed location, the impact of alcohol ester ratio and reflux ratio on the catalytic distillation process.Catalyst distillation technology is used to produce n-butyl acetate via transesterification in the experimental device,with methyl acetate and n-butanol as raw material.Catalyst distillation column high 1.7m(which packed by a supported catalyst layer stainless steel θ ring, which about 1.5m).The result showed that the suitable feeding position for methyl acetate is bottom,and for n-butanol is 2/5 from the top of tower,n-butanol feed rate is 15 m L/minfeed ratio 1: 1.2, reflux ratio 1. On these conditions, n-butanol conversion ratioreach to 90.17%, the content of N-butyl acetate is 86.24%, higher than reported in literature.Andthe light compositionmethyl acetate and methanol is 22.11%- 77.89%,which is away from azeotropic composition, subsequent separation process is easy.Experiment law and computer simulation results are in good agreement, provide basic data for further research.