Multi-product reactive distillation process for higher acrylates production

Higher acrylates are used in special applications. However, production at high capacity in continuous reactive distillation (RD) systems, throughout the whole year of only one acrylate, may be hindered by a low market and periodic demands. Thus, for the asset to be fully utilized, one may consider to build a multi-product reactive distillation system. This is a preliminary study that shows what four higher acrylates (i.e., isoamyl acrylate, cyclohexyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate and n-decyl acrylate) have in common to be considered candidates for producing them in the same column, and the methodology to design such a multi-product RD column. The systemic design method uses PSE tools to achieve the design, based solely on thermodynamics and equilibrium information.