Method for preparing methyl ester compound

A method for preparing methyl glycolate, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

• a) passing a first raw material containing methylal and carbon monoxide through a first reactor carrying a first acidic molecular sieve catalyst, performing a carbonylation reaction under a first predetermined condition to generate a first product containing methyl methoxyacetate, dimethyl ether, and methyl formate, and separating the first product to obtain a methyl methoxyacetate;
• b) passing a second raw material containing the methyl methoxyacetate obtained in the step a) and water through a second reactor carrying a second acidic molecular sieve catalyst, performing a hydrolysis reaction under a second predetermined condition to generate a second product containing the methyl glycolate, glycolic acid, methoxyacetic acid, methanol, and the dimethyl ether, and separating the second product to obtain the methyl glycolate;
• and
• c) passing a third raw material containing the glycolic acid, the methoxyacetic acid, the methanol, and the dimethyl ether obtained in the step b) through a third reactor, performing an esterification reaction under a third predetermined condition to generate a third product containing the methyl methoxyacetate and the methyl glycolate, and separating the third product to obtain the methyl glycolate.