Abstract
Esterification reactions are limited by chemical equilibrium and therefore they are carried out commercially using either a large excess of one of the reactants or by removing one of the products continuously. The removal of one of the products continuously can be achieved by carrying out reactive distillation where reaction and separation are performed simultaneously. This work presents an approach for mathematical modelling and simulation of batch reactive distillation which can be used by design engineers to obtain key information such as composition and temperature variation as the reaction progresses with time, product composition and the quantity accumulated in the distillate and the most suitable reflux conditions needed for high product separation rates. The process unit studied consists of a batch reactor with single stage distillation and a condenser. The mathematical model considered material balance equations, equilibrium relationships, summation equations and energy balance equations. The model was simulated for acetic acid and ethanol esterification reaction. The reactor composition variation in modelling and simulation results show a decrease in acetic acid and ethanol reactant compositions with time while ethyl acetate and water compositions show an increase. The ethyl acetate mole fraction in the condenser increases as the reflux ratio increases. ENGINEER, Vol. 48, No.04, pp. 17-23, 2015
Highlights
Reactive distillation is one of the process intensification methods that combine the reactor and distillation process into one unit
One example is the manufacture of methyl acetate by the Eastman Chemical Company [1].In their case, a single reactive distillation column has replaced the traditional flow sheet consisting of eleven major unit operations along with other equipment such as heat exchangers, pumps and controllers
As the reaction proceeds, initially acetic acid and ethanol reactants composition decreases while water and ethyl acetate composition increases
Summary
Reactive distillation is one of the process intensification methods that combine the reactor and distillation process into one unit. The modelling of reactive distillation is essential for understanding the complex behaviour of reactive distillation. There are many documented success stories involving the industrial implementation of reactive distillation [1, 2, 3, 4]. The applications of reactive distillation in the chemical and petroleum industries have increased rapidly in the past decade. One example is the manufacture of methyl acetate by the Eastman Chemical Company [1].In their case, a single reactive distillation column has replaced the traditional flow sheet consisting of eleven major unit operations along with other equipment such as heat exchangers, pumps and controllers. The result had been a fivefold reduction in capital investment and energy consumption when compared to methyl acetate production using conventional designs[1]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Engineer: Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
