PROCESS FOR THE CONTINUOUS PREPARATION OF AN ANHYDROUS MIXTURE OF METHYL ACETATE AND METHANOL

The anhydrous methyl acetate/methanol mixture is prepared by esterification of acetic acid with methanol in the presence of an acid esterification catalyst, in which the esterification is carried out in a distillation column in which n 20 to 50 distillation trays and in which a) the acetic acid is fed in together with a catalyst to a distillation tray which is at a distance of 0.5 n to 0.8 n, relative to the still pot, b) 50 to 80% by weight of the entire methanol is fed into the still pot and the remaining methanol to a distillation tray which is 2 to 10 trays above the tray at which acetic acid is fed in, c) methanol and acetic acid are fed into the distillation column at a molar ratio of (1.5 to 3) : 1, d) the reflux ratio is set to (0.75 to 1.5) : 1, e) the anhydrous methyl acetate/methanol mixture is removed at the top of the column and f) a bottom product comprising water/methanol/acetic acid is discharged together with the catalyst from the still pot.