Reaction Kinetics for Reactive Distillation Using Different Laboratory Reactors

Abstract

The reaction kinetics of the heterogeneously catalyzed esterification of n-hexyl acetate were measured using both a batch reactor and continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR). The catalyst was Amberlyst CSP2. The results of the batch reactor and CSTR experiments were compared to reaction kinetic measurements carried out in previous work using a plug-flow reactor (PFR). Because the change in the composition of the reaction mixture in the batch reactor is caused not only by reaction but also by component-specific adsorption on the catalyst, the batch reactor is not recommended for reaction kinetic measurements of the present type of chemical system. The results from the CSTR and PFR are in very good agreement with regard to the measured rate of reaction. To address the impact of the conditions present in a heterogeneously catalyzed reactive distillation (HCRD) column on the performance of the catalyst, the influences of boiling and of the reduction of the low-boiling components (here, water) on the rate of reaction were investigated using the CSTR. Neither was found to have a significant impact on the performance of the catalyst. A simple pseudohomogeneous model was fitted to the data of the CSTR experiments using a reparameterized Arrhenius equation to avoid parameter coupling. The model predictions and experimental results are in good agreement.

Optimal Design of Laboratory and Pilot-plant Experiments using Multiobjective Optimization

“…Understanding the reaction kinetics at conditions close to those used in the actual process may however be important for the reliable design and operation of the latter. In this example the process of interest is a heterogeneously catalyzed reactive distillation (HCRD) where the reaction occurring is the esterification of n-hexyl acetate [41], [42] This type of reaction can be studied using standard laboratory reactors such as a batch reactor [43], a tubular reactor [44], or a continuous stirred tank reactor [41]. The drawback of all these reactors is, however, that the concentration of water is increasing when the reaction is progressing.…”

Optimal Design of Laboratory and Pilot‐Plant Experiments Using Multiobjective Optimization

“…Understanding the reaction kinetics at conditions close to those used in the actual process may however be important for the reliable design and operation of the latter. In this example, the process of interest is a heterogeneously catalyzed reactive distillation (HCRD) where the reaction occurring is the esterification of n ‐hexyl acetate , : …”

“…Understanding the reaction kinetics at conditions close to those used in the actual process may however be important for the reliable design and operation of the latter. In this example, the process of interest is a heterogeneously catalyzed reactive distillation (HCRD) where the reaction occurring is the esterification of n-hexyl acetate [41,42]:…”

Catalytic upgrading of bio‐oils by esterification

“…The use of reactive distillation as a means of effecting ester separation during esterification reaction has been explored for a number of industrial scale processes for commodity chemical production. The application of such processes to bio‐oil esterification has begun to receive some interest in the context of bio‐oil pre‐treatment using Amberlyst ion‐exchange resins as benchmark esterification catalysts, enabling the continuous production of esters from bio‐oil .…”