PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PROPIONATE ESTERS

摘要

Integrated process for the simultaneous production of methyl propionate (MEP) and a second propionate ester by catalytically carbonylating C2H4 with CO and CH3OH, isolating MEP from the carbonylation reaction mixture, catalytically transesterifying MEP with a second alcohol to form the second propionate ester, isolating a CH3OH-MEP azeotrope from the transesterification reaction mixture, and recirculating the isolated azeotrope to the carbonylation.