Process simulation of lactic acid esterification in reactive distillation column: Effects of reboiler duty and alcohol

This study investigates the effects of reboiler duty on the esterification of lactic acid using three alcohols: methanol, ethanol, and butanol in a reactive distillation column. The main objective was to evaluate how variations in reboiler duty and alcohol type influence reaction and separation. The results showed that methanol and ethanol achieved high conversion rates, with methanol demonstrating the highest conversion rate. While butanol provided the highest product purity, it also required the least reboiler duty compared to the reboiler duty range for methanol and ethanol. From the result, the reboiler duty did not significantly affect the reaction, as the conversion rates for each alcohol showed almost no difference. These findings are critical for optimizing reactive distillation columns in bio-based chemical production, particularly in lactic acid esterification. The study contributes to the design of more energy-efficient and sustainable processes for green chemical manufacturing, particularly in producing biodegradable esters like polylactic acid.