Method for controlling reactive distillation column

A method for controlling a reactive distillation column to effect an alcohol conversion reaction, the method comprising feeding a metal methoxide salt into the reactive distillation column by lateral feeding; feeding the reactant alcohol into the lower part of the reactive distillation column; extracting methanol from the top of the reactive distillation column; and extracting a solution of the product metal alkoxide in the reactant alcohol from the bottom of the reactive distillation column; wherein the method comprises a process control scheme selected from the group consisting of: Scheme A: establishing a signal S1 responsive to a temperature in a rectification section disposed above a feed of metal methoxide; and manipulating the feed amount of the reactant alcohol in response to the signal S1; scheme B: establishing a signal S1 responsive to the temperature in the rectifying section disposed above the feed of metal methoxide; and manipulating the heat supplied to the bottom of the reactive distillation c