Production of ethyl lactate by reactive dividing wall column using analysis of the statics

•Analysis of the statics for lactic acid production.•Intensification of scheme flowsheet by reactive divided wall distillation column.•Saves net duty in 38% and increase in the conversion in 13%.•Feasibility operation by process intensification. The sustainable development in separation-reaction processes involves a higher energy efficiency and pollutant reduction. The main interest of the analysis of the statics methodology is developed the optimal qualitative technological scheme with minimal data, the physicochemical information of the system, and the stoichiometry of the reaction. This results in a feasible intensified scheme flowsheet and a reactive distillation column (RD) that are then implemented in a reactive dividing wall column (RDWC) distillation to produce ethyl lactate from the esterification of lactic acid with ethanol. The RDWC configuration showed a reduction of 38% in the save net duty and an increase of 13% in the conversion compared with a conventional direct sequence. The analysis of the statics method presents an alternative in the design stage in a complex column, allowing for a feasible operation in different degrees of process intensification. [Display omitted] .