PURPOSE: To provide a method for producing ethyl acetate in which the side reaction is suppressed in catalytically reacting ethylene with acetic acid in the vapor phase to produce the ethyl acetate at a high efficiency in a high yield and an inexpensive apparatus for producing the ethyl acetate in which maintenance and control are readily carried out.
CONSTITUTION: A mixed gas 1 containing ethylene and acetic acid in the vapor phase is successively passed through heat insulating catalytic beds 4, 14 and 24 containing a solid catalyst composed of a heteropoly acid or its salt in series in at least two stages and reacted. A cooling part 12 (or 22) is installed between the two-stage heat insulating catalytic beds 4 and 14 (or 14 and 24) in front and in rear and the mixed gas at a temperature raised by the heat of reaction in the former stage is cooled therewith and further passed though the latter stage.
SASAKI TAKAHARU
YAMADA KENJI