A novel fluidized catalytic distillation process was developed to produce ethyl acetate based on sodium bisulfate catalyst

and response surface method was used to optimize process parameters. Firstly

single factor sensitivity analysis of five parameters

such as catalyst amount

reflux ratio

bottom heating power

acid alcohol molar feed ratio

feed rate

were carried out

and three key parameters (reflux ratio

acid alcohol molar feed ratio and feed rate) and their optimum ranges were determined. Depending on the results of single factor experiments and hydraulic limit of distillation equipment

reboiler duty of column 68 W and the amount of catalyst 2.0%(mass) acetic acid were fixed. Then central composite design methodology was used to design the experimental cases. The correlation model between three key parameters and the conversion rate of ethanol was obtained by response surface methodology based on the experimental results. By the analysis of variance and parallel experiments

the model was proved to be accurate and available. Finally

the optimum conditions were found to be feed flow of acetic acid 3.2 mol·h-1 and mole ratio of acetic acid/ethanol 3.1

reflux ratio 3.3. Under the conditions

the conversion rate of ethanol is 88.67%. Compared to the optimization parameters by a single factor sensitivity analysis process

the conversion rate of ethanol is increased by 1.0%.