Integrated process of distillation with side reactors for synthesis of organic acid esters

摘要

An integrated process and system for synthesis of organic-acid esters is provided. The method of synthesizing combines reaction and distillation where an organic acid and alcohol composition are passed through a distillation chamber having a plurality of zones. Side reactors are used for drawing off portions of the composition and then recycling them to the distillation column for further purification. Water is removed from a pre-reactor prior to insertion into the distillation column. An integrated heat integration system is contained within the distillation column for further purification and optimizing efficiency in the obtaining of the final product.

主权项

1. An integrated process for synthesizing organic acid esters comprising:
(a) establishing an alcohol and organic acid composition; (b) reacting said alcohol and organic acid composition in a pre-reactor to form at least one ester; (c) separating water from said alcohol and organic acid composition to form a separated reaction product mixture; (d) introducing said separated reaction product mixture into an upper zone of a distillation column, said distillation column having a plurality of distillation zones, said distillation zones arranged in upper and bottom distillation zones, wherein the step of introducing the separated reaction product mixture into said upper distillation zone of a distillation column is followed by the steps of:
(a1) drawing a liquid side stream from a predetermined zone of said distillation column which is sequentially lower than said upper distillation zone into at least one first side reactor;(b1) passing an effluent stream from said first side reactor to a heat exchanger;(c1) drawing a vapor stream from said heat exchanger for combining with said overhead vapor stream of said distillation column; and(d1) drawing a liquid stream from said heat exchanger for re-introduction into said distillation column; (e) drawing a column overhead vapor stream off of said separated reaction product mixture from an upper distillation zone; (f) passing said reaction product mixture through a plurality of distillation zones in the distillation column for distilling said organic esters from said introduced separated reaction product mixture liquid; and (g) removing enriched organic ester from a bottom distillation zone of said distillation column.