Patent ID: 7276621

Claim:
Process for the preparation of di-(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate which comprises contacting terephthalic acid (TPA) with 2-ethylhexanol (EH) in the presence of a titanium catalyst in a reaction zone wherein the total pressure is maintained at about 1 to 4 bar gauge (barg), the temperature is maintained at about 180° C. to 270° C., the EH:TPA mole ratio is maintained at about 2:1 to 2.5:1, and an inert gas is fed below the surface of the TPA/EH reaction mixture in the reaction zone, in the range of about 2 to 5 volumes of gas per volume of reaction mixture per hour, to cause a mixture of water and EH to be removed from the reaction zone during the preparation of di-(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate.