SYNTHESIS AND PURIFICATION OF ESTER

The present invention provides an apparatus (100) and a process (600) for synthesis and purification of an ester via an integrated reactive distillation column. In the process (600), the feedstock is preheated before being fed into a reactive distillation column (112) with the alcohol. Further, the process comprises esterifying the feedstock with the alcohol and an effective amount of esterification catalyst to produce ester in the distillation column (112). The ester obtained is then reacted with the alcohol and an effective amount of transesterification catalyst to form a reaction mixture comprised of an ester and an alcohol. The process further proceeds with decolourizing the ester obtained to change dark color of ester to a lightest colour. In general, the present invention permits simultaneous reaction and separation. Further in the present invention, purity of different ester specification is derived from varying feedstock at different operating conditions.