PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF SUCCINIC ACID ESTER.

摘要

A process for the production of dialkyl succinate from a bio-succinic acid feedstock comprising the steps of: feeding bio-succinic acid to a point at or near the bottom of a reaction distillation zone column operated at temperatures and pressures to enable esterification of the succinic acid and passing said stream co-currently with upflowing alkanol such that said esterification reaction occurs: removing an overhead vapour stream from at or near the top of the reaction distillation zone column comprising di-ester, alkanol, water of esterification and organic components and passing said stream to an alkanol separation column where the alkanol is separated from the water of esterification and from the organic components; removing a side draw from the alkanol separation column from a point below the feed point thereto, said side draw comprising partially immiscible organic and aqueous phases; passing said side draw to phase separation apparatus where the partially immiscible organic and aqueous phases are separated; passing said organic phase to a column where the dialkyl succinate is separated from residual water and other organic components; and recovering the dialkyl succinate.