This study demonstrates the use of a millireactor as intensified technology for the continuous production of furfural via acid dehydration of xylose in a biphasic media. Very rapid extraction of furfural, aided by fast mass transfer rates, is key to preventing furfural subsequent degradation. Thus, by operating at elevated temperatures (i.e., 150–190 °C), it is possible to maintain high furfural selectivity (ca. 70%) at high xylose conversion (ca. 80%) and very short residence times (up to 2.5 min). A reaction mechanism is proposed based on the observed conversion-selectivity trends, and on the analysis of product distribution. The contribution of humins to the carbon balance is remarkably low due to the high furfural extraction rates achieved in the millireactor. Through first-principle reactor modeling, we further demonstrate the potential of combining intensified reactor technologies with the extractive synthesis of furfural and show that solvent optimization will be crucial to boost furfural selectivity above 80%.

No abstract

Quaternary ammonium salts (QAS) are an important part of the increasing surfactant market. Conventional production processes employ toxic alkyl halides in a Menshutkin reaction with a tertiary amine (DMDA). Dimethyl...

Surfactants such as quaternary ammonium salts (QAS) have been in increasing demand, for emerging new applications. Recent attempts at process intensification of their production have disclosed the need for a better understanding of QAS thermal stability. This work aims to determine the degradation kinetics of various QASs and the associated solvent effects. The degradation kinetics of four methyl carbonate QASs were determined in various polar solvents in stainless steel batch autoclaves. 1 H NMR spectrometry was employed for offline analysis of the reaction mixtures. The kinetic parameters were then used to compare the thermal stability of the four compounds in the polar solvents. Water showed no degradation, and methanol (MeOH) was the solvent that provided the secondbest stability. Water-MeOH mixtures may provide an overall optimum. Moreover, and longer long-chain substituents increased the degradation rate. Thermogravimetric analysis was used to obtain the thermal stability in a solid state, that is, solventless environment. Isoconversional analysis showed that no reliable kinetic parameters could be determined. Nevertheless, the data did allow for a comparison of the thermal stability of 14 different QASs. Furthermore, the relative instability of the compounds in the solid state demonstrated the challenges of solventless QAS production.

<div>Surfactants such as quaternary ammonium salts (QAS) have been in increasing demand, for emerging new applications. Recent attempts at process intensification of</div><div>their production, have disclosed the need for a better understanding of QAS thermal stability. This work aims to determine degradation kinetics of various QASs, and the</div><div>associated solvent effects. Degradation kinetics of four methyl carbonate QASs were determined in various</div><div>polar solvents in stainless steel batch autoclaves. ¹H NMR spectrometry was employed for online analysis of the reaction mixtures. The kinetic parameters were then used</div><div>to compare the thermal stability of the four compounds in the polar solvents. Water showed not degradation, and methanol (MeOH) was the solvent that provided the</div><div>second-best stability. Water-MeOH mixtures may provide an overall optimum. More, and longer long-chain substituents increased the degradation rate. Thermogravimetric Analysis was used to obtain the thermal stability in a solid-</div><div>state, i.e. solventless environment. Isoconversional analysis showed that no reliable kinetic parameters could be determined. Nevertheless, the data did allow for a compar-</div><div>ison of the thermal stability of 14 different QASs. Furthermore, the relative instability of the compounds in solid-state demonstrated the challenges of solventless QAS production.</div>