Abstract
Phase transfer catalysed (PTC) reactions are used in several pharmaceutical and fine chemical industrial processes. We have developed a novel stirred tank reactor (Yadav reactor) to conduct batch and continuous liquid–liquid–liquid (L-L-L) PTC reactions. The reactor had a provision of using three independent stirrers for each phase, thereby having complete control over the rate of mass transfer across the two interfaces. In the continuous mode of operation, the top and bottom phases were continuously fed into the reactor while the middle phase was used as a batch. All three stirrers were used independently, thereby having independent control of mass transfer resistances. The reactor in a batch mode showed higher conversion and selectivity compared to a conventional batch reactor. L-L-L PTC reaction in the continuous mode was successfully performed without loss of the middle catalyst phase and with steady conversion and selectivity. The reaction of guaiacol with epichlorohydrin was conducted as a model reaction, with a 76% conversion of epichlorohydrin, 85% selectivity of guaiacol glycidyl ether, and the middle catalyst phase was stable throughout the process.
Highlights
Liquid–liquid biphasic phase transfer catalysis (PTC) is a vital process in the fine chemical and pharmaceutical industries [1,2]
time on on stream stream (TOS)), theTOS), catalyst retained original with the chemical designThe of design of the reactor and reaction parameters successfully converted the batch reaction the reactor and reaction parameters successfully converted the batch L-L-L PTC reaction system into a system intosystem
The present work described a novel approach in the design of a multiphase reactor in a continuous operation mode for L-L-L PTC reactions
Summary
Liquid–liquid biphasic phase transfer catalysis (PTC) is a vital process in the fine chemical and pharmaceutical industries [1,2]. This is a special type of multiphase PTC reaction which contains an organic phase in the upper layer, the catalyst-rich phase in the middle layer, and an aqueous phase in the lower layer. Organic and aqueous phase reactants are transferred to the middle catalyst-rich phase, where the actual reaction occurs. Because of the single stirrer, baffles, and countercurrent flow of aqueous and organic phases, the middle catalyst-rich phase was distributed in an organic and aqueous phase. This resulted in the catalyst phase flowing out of the reactor. It focused on reusing the middle catalyst phase continuously without any post-recovery treatment and to keep all three phases steady
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