PROCESS OF LOW ENERGY CONSUMPTION FOR PREPARING A CARBOXYLIC ACID ESTER

摘要

The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing ethyl acetate, which consists in reacting ethyl alcohol with acetic acid in the presence of a solid acid catalyst and simultaneously separating the reaction components by distillation in a reactive distillation device comprising at least three zones: a reaction zone in which the reaction takes place simultaneously with the separation by distillation of the components in an upper separating zone and in a lower separating zone, the organic phase obtained in the upper separating zone being isolated and partially refluxed into the reaction zone. The process of the invention is improved as regards firstly the operating energy costs while at the same time obtaining an entirely satisfactory degree of conversion of ethanol, and secondly a column tail stream containing a very low proportion of acid, thereby simplifying the rest of the process and reducing the energy costs thereof.