Method for purifying light acrylates

Abstract

The present invention relates to the production of light (meth)acrylic acid esters, such as methyl or ethyl (meth)acrylate, by direct esterification of (meth)acrylic acid with a corresponding light alcohol. More specifically, the subject of the present invention is a method for recovering / purifying C1-C2 alkyl acrylates, comprising steps of evaporation and partial condensation, which allows for the removal of fractions rich in alkylalkoxypropionate byproducts, which are extremely difficult to remove when pure because their boiling point is close to that of acrylic acid, or when in the form of an azeotropic mixture with water because their boiling point is close to that of the acrylic acid ester.

Images