Compared　with　start-ups　in　conventional　distillation　columns,　those　in　reactive　distillation　(RD)　columns　are　much　more　time　and　energy　consuming,　and　generate　a　large　amount　of　by-products　which　are　not　easy　to　deal　with　together.　For　several　years,　researchers　have　been　trying　out　different　methods　to　shorten　the　time　required　to　lower　the　cost　of　the　start-up.　In　this　work,　a　rigorous　dynamic　model　in　the　ChemCAD　simulator　is　applied　to　model　the　start-up　process　for　the　esterification　of　ethyl　acetate　in　a　reactive　distillation　column.　In　the　model,　two　sets　of　equations　are　employed:　one　for　the　fill-up　and　heating　stage　and　the　other　for　the　equilibration　process　which　follows.　In　the　fill-up　and　heating　stage,　fluctuation　curves　of　the　reboiler　temperatures　with　respect　to　time　which　are　similar　to　those　for　conventional　distillation　columns　are　observed,　while　in　the　equilibration　process　it　is　found　that　the　increase　of　the　liquid　holdup　volume　in　the　condenser　reduces　the　time　required　to　reach　steady　state　for　the　reactive　column　and　decreases　the　liquid　holdup　volume　in　the　reboiler　at　the　equilibrium　state.　This　shows　that　the　liquid　holdup　volume　in　the　condenser　has　an　important　effect　on　the　start-up　of　reactive　distillation　columns.　©　2006　Wiley-VCH　Verlag　GmbH　&　Co.　KGaA,　Weinheim.