Optimization of ethyl acetate process conditions for sodium bisulfate fluidized catalytic distillation using response surface methodology

A novel fluidized catalytic distillation process was developed to produce ethyl acetate based on sodium bisulfate catalyst, and response surface method was used to optimize process parameters. Firstly, single factor sensitivity analysis of five parameters, such as catalyst amount, reflux ratio, bottom heating power, acid alcohol molar feed ratio, feed rate, were carried out, and three key parameters (reflux ratio, acid alcohol molar feed ratio and feed rate) and their optimum ranges were determined. Depending on the results of single factor experiments and hydraulic limit of distillation equipment, reboiler duty of column 68 W and the amount of catalyst 2.0% (mass) acetic acid were fixed. Then central composite design methodology was used to design the experimental cases. The correlation model between three key parameters and the conversion rate of ethanol was obtained by response surface methodology based on the experimental results. By the analysis of variance and parallel experiments, the model was proved to be accurate and available. Finally, the optimum conditions were found to be feed flow of acetic acid 3.2 mol·h-1 and mole ratio of acetic acid/ethanol 3.1, reflux ratio 3.3.Under the conditions, the conversion rate of ethanol is 88.67%. Compared to the optimization parameters by a single factor sensitivity analysis process, the conversion rate of ethanol is increased by 1.0%. ©All Rights Reserved.