The simulated moving-bed reactor for production of bisphenol A

Abstract

Bisphenol A was produced from acetone and phenol over an ion-exchange resin catalyst at 50–90°C. Phenol was used as solvent. The reaction proceeded under the excess phenol condition. The reaction rate was proportional to the acetone concentration in the initial period of the reaction. After the acetone conversion exceeded approximately 50%, the reaction rate became lower than expected by the first-order reaction rate. This was ascribed to water adsorption onto the resin. Batch adsorption and breakthrough experiments showed that water was adsorbed approximately seven times stronger than acetone and that bisphenol A was not adsorbed. Using the reaction rate equation for bisphenol A production, the adsorption isotherms and overall mass transfer coefficients of the components, the numerical simulation of the 3-zone-type simulated moving-bed reactor was carried out. High resin flow rate was required in order to remove water out of the reaction zone, and a high liquid flow rate was also required to desorb water from the resin in the recovery zone. As far as the flow rates were set appropriately, water was successfully removed to prevent the catalyst deactivation and the long-term stable production of BPA was allowed.