Ethyl acetate is the product of the reaction of ethanol with acetic acid (Fischer esterification process) in presence of an acid catalyst, such as sulphuric acid, hydrochloride acid, etc. with the equation: CH3CH2OH + CH3COOH ↔ CH3COOC2H5 + H2O
My chemistry team is looking for a way to remove water from the products in order to increase the ethyl acetate productivity. We have found information regarding hydrophobic/hydrophilic composite membranes with an application on distillation, however we are not sure if that process may be the most accurate one for this situation.
Instead of separating of a post-reaction mixture, which requires several distillation columns, it is better to use a reactive distillation. It is also better then not to use sulfuric and hydrochloric acid as catalysts and replace them with solid catalysts in the bed.
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