Synthesis of High‐Purity Methylal via Extractive Catalytic Distillation

Abstract

An integrated continuous process, which combines catalytic distillation and extractive distillation in one column, is investigated for the synthesis of highpurity methylal from methanol and formalin in the presence of a cation-exchange resin catalyst. A feed with methanol:formaldehyde 2:1 molar ratio is chosen to evaluate the effects of operating parameters, such as extractant feeding position, ratio of extractant to feed, reflux ratio, and reboiler temperature, on the continuous synthesis of methylal. Under the optimum operating conditions and with water as extractant, the extractive catalytic distillation process operated continuously, producing a methylal purity of 98.7 % (H 2 O: < 1.30 %) with 98.0 % formaldehyde conversion.

Challenges and Opportunities in the Production of Oxymethylene Dimethylether

“…However, the separation is impeded by the formation of a low‐boiling azeotrope of OME 1 and methanol with 92.2 wt % of OME 1 . Pressure swing distillation allows increasing OME 1 purity up to 99.1 wt % .…”

Biogenous Ethers - Production and Operation in a Diesel Engine

“…Additionally to trioxane, methylal is the second building block for OME production. A reactive distillation, with water as entrainer, according to Liu [45] is simulated and product purity of 98.7% is reached. Finally, the production of OME mixture was calculated following the design of Burger et al [34,46].…”

State‐of‐the‐Art of Advanced Distillation Technologies in China

“…The research and application of extractive distillation mainly concentrated on the following categories of material separation and purification: aromatic hydrocarbons and their derivatives 159, alkanes and olefins 162, 166, alcohols and esters 167–173, organic compounds 155, 156, 160, 174, organic acids and water 152, 161, 175, and inorganic acids and water. Several separation systems and relevant entrainers are listed in Tab.…”