The present invention provides a method and a device for preparing
sec butanol, and the method is as follows: (1) sec-
butyl acetate is introduced into a first-stage
catalytic distillation column, excessive C1-C3 alcohols are added simultaneously for ester exchange, the
sec butanol as a product falls into a
tower kettle to collect, and the unreacted C1-C3 alcohols and
reaction product acetic acid C1-C3 esters partly are sent into a second-stage
catalytic distillation column for further reaction separation; (2) excessive sec-
butyl acetate is added into the second-stage
catalytic distillation column, the
acetic acid C1-C3 esters are distilled off from the top of the column, and then congealed to partly
reflux to the top of the second-stage catalytic
distillation column and partly use as a product to collect; and (3) the
sec butanol obtained by the step (2) and the unreacted sec-
butyl acetate are returned to the first-stage catalytic
distillation column for further reaction separation. The purity of the sec
butanol obtained by the method is high above 99.9%, the purity of the separated
acetic acid C1-C3 esters is more than 99%, at the same time, the method has the advantages of simple process and easy operation, compared with the process of butylene hydration for preparing the sec
butanol,
energy consumption is greatly reduced, and cost is saved.