Selectivity Engineering with Hybrid Reactive Distillation Column: Mixtures Containing Inerts and Multi-Azeotropes

Abstract

Reactive Distillation (RD) which combines reaction and distillation can be effectively used to get desired selectivities in multi-reaction systems. In case of azeotropic systems, nonideal vapor-liquid equilibrium and distillation boundaries are responsible for the contraction of the feasible reactive stage composition region required for the design of hybrid RD column. In the present study, we show that if the mixture contains inert as well then this feasible reactive stage composition region reduced further and thereby decreases the feasible design options of desired selectivity in multireaction systems. Therefore, an attempt is made here, to developed a conceptual design algorithm which is based on combined graphical-simulation approach and attainable region concepts. The developed methodology successfully finds at least one feasible design of hybrid RD column to give desired selectivity. Method gives excellent starting values for rigorous simulations suited to industrial applications.