Evaluation of Operational Parameters for Ethyl Lactate Production Using Reactive Distillation Process

Ethyl lactate is an environmentally bio-based solvent with a wide range of industrial applications. In this work, ethyl lactate was produced by synthesis using reactive distillation process. Through factorial experimental design, the influence of operating conditions as molar ratio ethanol: lactic acid, reboiler temperature and catalyst concentration on ethyl lactate were evaluated. A mathematical model was developed in order to describe the response of interest as function of operating conditions. The experimental results showed that the reactive distillation seems to be an alternative and simple energy-saving process with lower investment and operation costs to obtain ethyl lactate which normally requires a stage to the reaction and a stage to the reaction products separation. Each additional step in the downstream represents an increase in the operating and equipment investment costs.