Acetalization of Formaldehyde with Methanol in Batch and Continuous Reactive Distillation Columns

Abstract

Methylal, an important raw material and a solvent, is produced by acetalization of aqueous formaldehyde with methanol. This acetalization reaction was carried out in a closed system in the presence of a cation-exchange resin Indion 130 as catalyst and was found to be equilibrium limited. In order to increase the conversion for this reaction, reactive distillation was carried. Batch reactive distillation was performed in the presence of the cation-exchange resin Indion 130 as catalyst. Continuous reactive distillation was performed in a reactive distillation column (RDC) using three different types of catalyst packing. The first type of catalyst packing was coarse size macroporous cation-exchange resin Indion 130, which was directly packed along with Raschig rings. The second type of catalyst packing was Indion 130 tied in cloth bags. The third type of catalyst packing used was a silica-supported organic catalyst. Up to 99% conversion of formaldehyde was achieved by reactive distillation. Vapor−liquid equi...