Optimization of Integrated Reaction-Separation Strategies for Methyl Acetate Production

Conventional methyl acetate production is constrained by equilibrium-limited reaction kinetics and azeotropic separation, leading to complex process flowsheets. This study investigates an integrated reaction-separation strategy combining reactive distillation and extractive distillation, simulated using Aspen HYSYS. Reactive distillation enhances methanol conversion through simultaneous reaction and separation, while extractive distillation employing dimethyl sulfoxide enables effective azeotrope breaking and high-purity product recovery. Parametric sensitivity analyses were performed on key operating variables, including pressure, reflux ratio, and solvent management. The integrated configuration achieves methyl acetate purity above ۹۹% under optimized conditions, demonstrating the effectiveness of integrated reaction-separation strategies for equilibrium-limited ester systems.

کلیدواژه ها:

Reactive distillation ، Extractive distillation ، Process intensification ، Methyl acetate ، Aspen HYSYS