oxidation of liquid ethanol in the presence of excess liquid ethanol and a supported oxidation catalyst provides a one step process for production of ethyl acetate . the acetic acid produced in the oxidation is absorbed by the excess liquid ethanol , which esterifies to ethyl acetate . ethyl acetate and water are removed from the process for separation of the ethyl acetate . the oxidation portion of process is preferred with a metallic oxidation catalyst on a hydrophobic support . the esterification portion of the process is preferred with an acidic solid ion exchange resin to promote the esterification . the process can be performed in series in separate steps , or preferably , in parallel in a single vessel , preferably a trickle bed reactor .