Residue curve maps (RCMs) of propyl acetate synthesis reaction in the batch reactive distillation process are studied. In order to adapt the model equations of residue curve maps to a practicable heating policy, the theoretical analysis and experimental measurements in this paper are carried out isothermally instead of the autonomous heat policy first introduced by Venimadhavan et al. (A.I.Ch.E. Journal 40 (1994) 1814-1824). The chemical equilibrium constant of this reaction is determined by experiments to be 20 within the temperature range 80-110 degrees C. Using this equilibrium constant, the RCMs predicted by simulation are in good agreement with the experimental measurements. The results show that there is an unstable node branch emerging from the propyl acetate-water edge, moving toward the chemical equilibrium surface with the increasing Damkohler number (Da), and eventually reaching the quatemary reactive azeotrope when Da -> infinity. Residue curves are measured with initial compositions around the unstable node, and thus the results verify the existence of this reactive azeotrope. Further bifurcation analysis shows that different heat policies will influence the singular points and topology of kinetically controlled RCMs, but not the cases when Da = 0 or Da -> infinity. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.