Batch esterification
AssigneeExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
InventorsNicolaas Anthony De Munck, Klaas Bandstra, Raphael Frans Caers, Brady Compton, John Lyford, IV, Aad Gerrit Oskam, Berend Jan Van Der Veen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The efficiency of catalysed batch esterification reactions is improved by the use of a particular temperature and pressure profile during the reaction cycle. In particular elevated pressure is maintained to prevent alcohol boil off during initial mixing and reaction of the reactants prior to any catalyst addition, and preferably the pressure is reduced rapidly after the desired reaction temperature has been reached.
Claims19
A process for the catalysed esterification of reactants comprising at least one of an acid and an acid anhydride, and an alcohol, to produce at least one of a plasticizer ester for polyvinylchloride (PVC) from a C4 to C15 monohydric alcohol and a polyol ester from a polyol and a fatty acid, which process comprises a batch reaction sequence that comprises
- (i) providing a mixture of the at least one of an acid and an acid anhydride with the alcohol at an initial temperature in a reaction vessel,
- (ii) raising the temperature of the mixture to a desired esterification reaction temperature to effect esterification, and
- (iii) boiling off water by-product produced in the esterification reaction,
- wherein the pressure in the reaction vessel is elevated as the temperature of the mixture is raised during at least the initial phase of raising the temperature of the mixture, thereby reducing reactant vaporisation, and the esterification catalyst is introduced into the mixture at a predetermined mixture temperature that is below the desired esterification reaction temperature and above the initial temperature of the mixture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.