Process for continuously producing an anhydrous methyl acetate/methanol mixture

Abstract

A process for continuously producing an anhydrous methyl acetate/methanol mixture by esterifying acetic acid and methanol in the presence of an acidic esterification catalyst is indicated, which comprises carrying out the esterification in a distillation column having n=20 to 50 distillation trays, a) the acetic acid being fed together with the catalyst to a distillation tray which is at a distance of 0.5 n to 0.8 n from the still bottom, b) feeding 50 to 80% by weight of the total methanol to the still bottom and the remaining methanol to a distillation tray which is 2 to 10 trays above the acetic acid feed tray, c) feeding methanol and acetic acid into the distillation column at a molar ratio of (1.5 to 3):1, d) setting a reflux ratio of (0.75 to 1.5):1, e) taking off the anhydrous methyl acetate/methanol mixture at the top of the column and f) a water/methanol/acetic acid bottom product with the catalyst from the still bottom.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.