| 摘要 |
Fatty acid esterification is effected in a packing-containing column with both reactor and distillation functions, the process involving production of a stripping gas in the sump and liquefaction and separation of the loaded gas at the column top into an aqueous fraction and an alcohol-rich fraction, the latter fraction being recycled as a starting material for the esterification and for the production of the stripping gas. Fatty acid (F) esterification is effected in a column (1) with uni- or multi-part packing (3, 4) which acts both as a reactor and a distillation unit and forms a reaction zone (3) at least in the upper part with the catalyst fixed to the packing, the process involving (i) heterogeneous catalysis of acid (F) with an equimolar amount or an excess of an alcohol (A); (ii) producing a gaseous alcohol-rich counterstream (50) in the sump by evaporation; (iii) removing water from the reaction zone using stream (50) which acts as a stripping gas; (iv) at least partially liq uefying the loaded stripping gas (60) at the top of the column; (v) separating the tops product into an aqueous fraction (63) and an alcohol-rich fraction (62); and (vi) recycling the alcohol-rich fraction (62) as a starting material for the esterification and also for the production of the stripping gas. An Independent claim is also included for a plant for production of the ester (E) comprising the column (1) with packing including porous catalyst carriers (31) and flow channels (32) for the stripping gas (50/) between the carriers, the reaction being effected in the carrier pores with the treated mixture being a downwards flowing stream (10/) and the stripping gas being an upwards flowing stream such that the streams are in direct contact to give a materials exchange. |
