2-Methylpropylacetate synthesis via catalytic distillation

The paper deals with a 2-methylpropylacetate synthesis process development. The process is based on esterification of acetic acid with 2-methylpropanol by the reactive distillation method. A column in which separation of the reaction products takes place together with esterification in catalytic active separation packing is utilized in this process. Computer simulation of catalytic distillation has been performed to study the process and to evaluate the pilot plant experimental data. KATAPAK^® S structural packing was used in the reaction zone, while stripping and rectifying sections of the column were packed by CY^® packing. A good agreement between the simulation results and pilot plant data has been achieved.