METHOD FOR PRODUCING ESTER

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for continuously producing a high-purity ester in a high efficiency. SOLUTION: This method for continuously producing an ester is characterized by comprising the following process: an aliphatic carboxylic acid and an aliphatic alcohol are continuously fed into a reaction zone under such a condition that the amount of the latter is in excess of the stoichiometrically reactive amount thereof, both the reactants are reacted with each other in the presence of an esterification catalyst, the resultant crude reaction liquid are distilled while supplying water thereto to obtain an azeotropic mixture of ester/water/ alcohol three-component composition as distillate, and from the azeotropic mixture, the objective ester is obtained through a phase separation operation or the like.