Method of producing ethyl acetate

Abstract

Methods and systems for the production of ethyl acetate are described herein. The methods and systems incorporate the novel use of a high shear device to promote dispersion and mixing of a carbonyl co-reactant (e.g. acetic acid, acetaldehyde) with ethanol. The high shear device may allow for lower reaction temperatures and pressures and may also reduce reaction time with existing catalysts.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
   
   
       13 . A system for producing ethyl acetate comprising:
 at least one high shear device comprising a rotor and a stator, said rotor and said stator are separated by a shear gap in the range of from about 0.02 mm to about 5 mm, wherein the shear gap is a minimum distance between said rotor and said stator, and wherein the high shear device is capable of producing a tip speed of the at least one rotor of greater than about 23 m/s (4,500 ft/min);   a pump configured for delivering a liquid stream to the high shear device; and   a reactor for producing ethyl acetate coupled to said high shear device, said reactor is configured for receiving said liquid stream from said high shear device.   
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the high shear device comprises two or more rotors and two or more stators. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 13  wherein said high shear device comprises a rotor tip and said device is configured for operating at a flow rate of at least 300 L/h at a tip speed of at least about 23 m/sec. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 13  wherein said high shear device is configured for operating at a tip speed of at least 40 m/sec. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 13  wherein said high shear device is configured to provide an energy expenditure greater than about 1000 W/m 3 . 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the at least one high shear device is configured for producing bubbles in a liquid phase, wherein the bubble have a mean diameter of less than 400 nm. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the at least one high shear device is capable of producing a tip speed of the at least one rotor of at least about 40 m/s (7,900 ft/min). 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19  comprising at least two high shear devices. 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the high shear device is capable of producing bubbles having a bubble diameter of less than about 5 μm in the liquid. 
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the high shear device comprises a high shear mill having a tip speed of greater than about 5 m/s (1000 ft/min). 
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the high shear device has a tip speed of greater than about 20 m/s (4000 ft/min). 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising a fixed bed reactor, the reactor comprising an acid catalyst. 
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the high shear device comprises at least two generators. 
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the shear rate provided by one generator is greater than the shear rate provided by another generator. 
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising one or more distillation columns coupled to said reactor for purifying ethyl acetate.