| 摘要 |
A continuous process for the esterification of an alpha, beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid and a mono-alcohol having 5 or more carbon atoms in a reactive distillation chamber, comprising the steps of a) feeding a first feed stream comprising the alpha, beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid to the lower half of the reactive distillation chamber and feeding a second feed stream comprising the mono-alcohol having 5 or more carbon atoms to the upper half of the reactive distillation chamber so as to cause a countercurrent flow of alcohol and carboxylic acid in the reactive distillation chamber, wherein the feed molar ratio of mono- alcohol having 5 or more carbon atoms to acid groups of the alpha, beta- unsaturated carboxylic acid is in the range of 0.95 to 1.20, b) causing the alpha, beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid and the alcohol to form an ester in the reactive distillation chamber by heating, wherein the temperature in the bottom part of the reactive distillation chamber is in the range of 130 to 250 °C, and wherein the pressure in the reactive distillation chamber is below atmospheric pressure, c) removing reaction water by distillation, and optionally separating organic material from the distillate, and recycling any separated organic material to the reactive distillation chamber, and d) removing the formed ester from the bottom of the reactive distillation chamber. |
