Method and apparatus for preparing an ester

Abstract

A method for preparing an ester is provided. The method includes steps of mixing an acid and an alcohol in a reactive distillation column to generate a first gas mixture; transporting the first gas mixture out of the reactive distillation column; cooling down the first gas mixture for a phase separation to obtain a first liquid mixture in an upper phase; transporting the first liquid mixture back to the reactive distillation column; obtaining a second liquid mixture at a middle section of the reactive distillation column; transporting the second liquid mixture to a separative distillation column; and obtaining the ester at a bottom section of the separative distillation column.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.