The invention relates to a method for producing
dimethyl maleate, mainly for solving the problems in the prior art that the operation is complex, a catalyst is seriously consumed, and the catalyst is not uniformly distributed on a reaction
tower plate as a catalyst needs to be frequently replaced. The problems can be well dissolved by adopting the technical scheme disclosed by the invention. According to the technical scheme, the method comprises the following steps of: a) feeding
maleic anhydride and a first path of
methanol into a single esterification reactor R1, and reacting to obtain a
material flow I containing monomethyl maleate; b) feeding the
material flow I and a second path of
methanol into a double-esterification
fixed bed reactor R2, and coming into contact with a catalyst so as to obtain a
material flow II containing monomethyl maleate and
dimethyl maleate, wherein 80-90wt% of monomethyl maleate in the material flow I is converted into
dimethyl maleate; c) feeding the material flow II and a third path of
methanol into a double-esterification
catalysis distilling reaction
tower T1, coming into contact with the catalyst, so as to obtain a material flow containing methanol at the
tower top and obtain a dimethyl maleate product from a tower kettle. The method can be applied to industrial production of dimethyl maleate.