Innovative Reactive Distillation Process for the Sustainable Synthesis of Natural Benzaldehyde

Abstract

Benzaldehyde (BA) is an aromatic flavor compound with a distinctive bitter almond taste and odor, being the second most produced and valuable natural fruit flavor (after vanillin). Compared to the chemical synthesis route, the BA production from natural resources is very expensive hence significant research effort has spurred into finding more feasible solutions. This study presents a novel reactive distillation (RD) process for the synthesis of natural BA by the alkaline hydrolysis reaction of cinnamaldehyde using β-cyclodextrin as phase transfer catalyst. A rigorous model of the RD process was developed for the plant design and scale-up, and pilot-scale experiments were used to validate the model. Also, a sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the effects of key operating variables on the RD process performance. The techno-economic analysis shows that the process is feasible, with over 97% and 70% reduction in CapEx and OpEx, over 88% savings in total annual costs, and 70% less CO 2 emissions as compared to the batch technology. Higher conversion and yield can be obtained by RD, within shorter residence time (only 2.9 h instead of 18 h) and using a lower reactants ratio (water:cinnamaldehyde = 11.5 instead of 200) as compared to the conventional process. However, the yield still needs to be further improved.

Ultrasound-Assisted Nonthermal, Nonequilibrium Separation of Organic Molecules from Their Binary Aqueous Solutions: Effect of Solute Properties on Separation

“…The foremost challenge among the eight is to develop cost-effective and energy-efficient alternatives of distillation. In the advancement toward developing efficient separation processes, it is vital to understand and explore the fundamental molecular, chemical, and physical properties of chemicals. − …”

Comparing sustainable methods for synthesis of natural benzaldehyde from trans‐cinnamaldehyde: Experimental analysis

“…The maximum conversion was obtained was 70 % in 4 h with 100 % selectivity towards natural benzaldehyde in the optimum conditions of the reaction. Hong Li et al [6] studied the synthesis of natural benzaldehyde by the alkaline hydrolysis reaction of cinnamaldehyde using β-cyclodextrin as a phase transfer catalyst in the batch reactive distillation. The paper reported that the conversion and the yield of benzaldehyde can be achieved higher with shorter residence time than for traditional process.…”

Reactive Distillation: Stepping Up to the Next Level of Process Intensification

“…The main research and development (R&D) steps that are used to develop a RD process are illustrated in Figure 2. 8 Literature data and rigorous simulations are typically used to guide the conceptual process design and the experimental program, while the lab/pilot-scale experiments serve to validate the simulation model. Afterwards, the experimentally validated model is used for process scale-up, sensitivity studies, optimization, and economic evaluation.…”