Conceptual Design of n-Butyl Acetate Synthesis Process by Reactive Distillation Using Residue Curve Maps

Residue curve maps are a powerful tool for the preliminary design of Reactive Distillation (RD). In this study, residue curve maps of the n-butyl acetate synthesis reaction were calculated based on the Langmuir–Hinshelwood–Hougen–Watson kinetic and UNIQUAC models to calculate the physical properties of the system. The results showed that the unstable node branch emerged from the n-butyl acetate/water edge, moved toward the chemical equilibrium surface with increasing Damköhler number, and no ternary reactive azeotropic point appeared when the reaction was added. Conceptual design of n-butyl acetate synthesis by reactive distillation based on residue curve maps is presented. Based on the simulation results, both the energy consumption and the total annual cost were lower than previously reported values.