(31f) Simulation of Batch Reactive Distillation for Methyl Acetate Production

Abstract The present work is concerned with simulating a batch reactive multistage multicomponent distillation. Rigorous model was used to build the simulation program using MatLab6.5 to solve MESHR equations. The validity and the accuracy of the developed program model were checked with previous work for the estrification of acetic acid with methanol to produce methyl acetate and water using sulfuric acid as a homogeneous catalyst. The influence of various parameters, such as number of stages, batch time and liquid hold up on the performance of batch reactive multicomponent distillation was shown through the vapor and liquid profile, temperature, reaction rate and liquid composition profiles. The results show that the maximum recovery obtained for methyl acetate was 90.7% and the overall conversion to methyl acetate was 49.41% under best operating conditions of 1.7hr batch time, 6 theoretical stages, 2.5 reflux ratio, 1atm pressure,310.15K feed temperature with constant liquid hold up through out the tower. Changing the liquid hold up throughout the tower will affect the performance of tower and increases the overall conversion of methyl acetate to 50.4% and the recovery of methyl acetate increased to 92.5%.