Entrainer-Based Reactive Distillation for the Synthesis of 2-Ethylhexyl Acetate

Abstract

The production of 2-ethylhexyl acetate by esterification of 2-ethylhexanol with acetic acid in the presence of ionexchange resin (Amberlyst-15) as catalyst is investigated in a reactive distillation (RD) column using toluene as an entrainer. Toluene helps in removing water efficiently from the reactive zone and maintains the reactive zone temperature below the thermal stability limit of the catalyst. Experiments as well as simulations show that quantitative conversion is achievable using the proposed entrainer-based reactive distillation process. The effect of different parameters on the conversion is studied through simulations. The proposed RD process is compared with the conventional process that uses homogeneous p-toluenesulfonic acid (pTSA) as a catalyst and it is shown that the proposed process is more energy efficient and less capital intensive.

Kinetics of Esterification of Acetic Acid With 2-Ethylhexanol in the Presence of Amberlyst 36

“…Patidar and Mahajani investigated the esterification of 2-ethylhexanol with acetic acid catalyzed by Amberlyst 15 to produce 2-ethylhexyl acetate in a reactive distillation column using toluene. They also studied the same reaction catalyzed by homogeneous p-toluenesulfonic acid and they compare the results of two processes [22].…”

Reactive Distillation for the Production of Methoxy Propyl Acetate: Experiments and Simulation

“…16 Entrainer-enhanced RD for the production of ethyl acetate has been reported to yield energy savings of up to 32%. 17 In a few other studies from our group 18,19 we found toluene to be the best entrainer for the synthesis of 2-ethylhexyl acetate and acetalization of glycerol with formaldehyde. The present work on methoxy-propyl acetate also uses toluene as an entrainer and evaluates its suitability for the reaction of interest in RD.…”

“…Split ratio less than unity means part of the reflux is sent at some other location in the column. Such a reflux policy has been proven to be beneficial in the case of some esterification reactions involving liquid–liquid split in the overhead stream . Part of the organic phase, if fed below the reactive zone, removes water efficiently from the reactive section and enhances conversion especially in the case of high boiling alcohols/esters.…”

“…Such a reflux policy has been proven to be beneficial in the case of some esterification reactions involving liquid−liquid split in the overhead stream. 18 Part of the organic phase, if fed below the reactive zone, removes water efficiently from the reactive section and enhances conversion especially in the case of high boiling alcohols/esters. In the case of esterification of 2-ethyl-hexanol, the conversion was found to be higher at low reflux split ratio at relatively lower reboiler duties (70% at a reflux split ratio of 0.2 against 50% at a reflux split ration of >0.6).…”

Isobaric Vapor–Liquid Equilibrium Data of Binary Systems Containing 2-Ethoxyethanol, 2-Ethoxyethyl Acetate, and Toluene

“…The reaction is equilibrium-limited and can be shifted to the right by continuous removal of products in azeotropic, extractive, or reactive distillation columns using suitable entrainers. , Toluene is often used as an entrainer in azeotropic/reactive distillation of esterification mixtures. , The design and operation of such distillation columns require accurate vapor–liquid equilibrium (VLE) data of the mixtures. The aim of this work is to generate VLE data of the binary systems comprising 2-ethoxyethanol, 2-ethoxyethyl acetate, and toluene.…”