Patent ID: 7288675
Filing Date: 2007-10-30
Classification: B01D,C07C,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A process for acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of a carboxylic ester to the corresponding carboxylic acid and alcohol hydrolysis products in the presence of water, comprising introducing carboxylic ester and water into a first prereactor containing a hydrolysis catalyst which hydrolyzes the carboxylic ester at least partly to hydrolysis products, removing a reaction mixture from the first prereactor and introducing at least a portion thereof into a reactive distillation column containing a hydrolysis catalyst which further converts a water-containing carboxylic ester stream to carboxylic acid and alcohol, and simultaneously at least partly separating the water-containing carboxylic ester stream into components thereof, mixture(s) comprising compounds of low volatility and low-boiling carboxylic ester being removed at least partly as a distillate from an upper rectification zone of the reactive distillation column and/or an accompanying condensation system, and collecting less volatile compounds at least partly as a bottom fraction from the reactive distillation column which is passed into a further distillation column, wherein aqueous carboxylic acid from the bottom fraction or from the lower rectification zone of the distillation column is mixed with further carboxylic ester and directed to a second prereactor containing a hydrolysis catalyst, and a reaction mixture is removed from the second prereactor and passed at least partly into the reactive distillation column.