UN METODO PARA PRODUCIR UN ESTER ALCANOATO.

摘要

This invention is a method for converting primary alkanols to their corresponding alkanoate esters. The reaction of this method involves the regulation of the mole feed ratio of hydrogen gas to alkanol in the reaction zone of a copper chromite containing catalyst. The mole feed ratio of hydrogen gas is used to control the equilibrium of the reaction so as to optimize the reaction of the intermediate aldehyde to form the desired alkanoate ester. This invention can include an azeotropic distillation step wherein the desired alkanoate ester is further purified and anhydrous alkanol is recycled to be used again as alkanol feed solution. The use of an azeotropic distillation step and the recycling of the distilled alkanol permits the use with the method of this invention of an aqueous alkanol feed solutions.