A　novel　two-way　coupling　multi-scale　model　was　proposed　to　investigate　the　catalytic　distillation　process.　In　the　model,　a　microscopic　model　that　focuses　on　the　reactive　performance　of　structure　catalytic　packing　was　used　to　calculate　actual　rate　for　catalytic　distillation　process,　which　is　the　basic　parameter　for　process　simulation.　Furthermore,　the　traditional　process　simulation　was　used　to　provide　proper　boundary　conditions　for　microscopic　model.　In　order　to　validate　the　multi-scale　model,　heterogeneously　catalyzed　hydrolysis　of　methyl　acetate　was　employed　as　a　test　system.　The　simulated　final　conversions　of　methyl　acetate　and　catalyst　layer　efficiency　factors　were　in　good　agreement　with　experimental　results.　The　results　indicated　that　as　the　equivalent　diameter　of　catalyst　layer　decreases　from　25.4　mm　to　8.1　mm,　the　catalyst　layer　efficiency　factor　rises　to　200%　approximately.　This　study　could　provide　a　theoretical　guide　for　the　optimization　of　catalytic　packing　structure.　©　2017　Elsevier　Ltd