Kinetic and Process Analysis of Continuous Catalytic Distillation for High-Purity Propylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether Production

The production of high-purity Propylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether Acetate (PMA) through the transesterification of Propylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether (PM) and Methyl Acetate (MeOAc) is traditionally catalyzed by sodium methoxide. However, the practical application of this method is significantly hindered by the inherent limitations of sodium methoxide, such as its high sensitivity to moisture and propensity for solid precipitation, which impede its effective use in continuous processes. This work proposed a continuous catalytic distillation (CD) process utilizing Amberlyst 15 cation exchange resin as the catalyst. A comprehensive series of reaction kinetic and CD experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed process. The results demonstrate that under the optimal operating conditions, namely an ester-to-ether molar ratio of 6:1, a reflux ratio of 5:1, a total feed rate of 0.92 g‧min −1 , and an evaporation rate of 266.47 m 3 ‧m −2 ‧h −1 , the conversion rate of PM achieves 99.95%, and the PMA yield is 97.31%. Based on these findings, a process flowsheet for a continuous CD process tailored for the production of electronic-grade PMA is presented. This design incorporates light and heavy removal steps to ensure the production of PMA with a purity of 99.99%. Additionally, the process utilizes pressure swing distillation to recover MeOAc, thereby enhancing the overall efficiency and sustainability of the production process. The proposed continuous CD process offers a highly efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable solution for the production of electronic-grade PMA.