With　the　increasing　demand　of　cyclohexanol　in　nylon　industry,　it　is　significant　to　develop　a　safe,　green　and　economical　process　to　produce　cyclohexanol.　For　this　purpose,　a　novel　reactive　distillation　process　through　cyclohexyl　acetate　transesterification　with　methanol　was　proposed　in　this　work.　The　NKC-9　catalyst　was　preferred　to　establish　the　reaction　kinetic　model　based　on　pseudo-homogeneous　model.　Seven　reactive　distillation　experiments　with　pilot-scale　for　cyclohexanol　synthesis　were　explored　to　prove　feasibility　of　reactive　distillation　processes　and　accuracy　of　model　by　comparing　simulated　results,　which　ensured　the　establishment　of　the　process　simulation.　Furthermore,　three　reactive　distillation　processes　of　cyclohexanol　production　were　designed　and　optimized　by　the　sequential　iterative　algorithm　based　on　minimum　total　annual　cost.　After　optimization　of　pressure　and　recycled　stream　flow,　a　novel　double　column　of　reactive　and　pressure-swing　hybrid　distillation　process　showed　the　minimized　total　annual　cost　per　ton　product,　which　was　170.90　$/kg.　Finally,　total　annual　cost　of　transesterification,　hydrolysis　and　hydrogenation　processes　were　compared,　and　transesterification　process　demonstrated　economic　advantage.　This　work　would　provide　a　guidance　for　cyclohexanol　green　production　by　reactive　distillation　through　cyclohexyl　acetate　transesterification,　while　a　whole,　economical　and　atomic　economical　reactive　distillation　process　of　cyclohexanol　production　could　be　established　in　the　future.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd