Thermodynamic equilibrium analysis on the dehydration of glycerol with monohydric alcohols to alkyl glyceryl ethers

Abstract

AbstractUnder the conditions of the feed of 400 moles of alcohol + 100 moles of glycerol, 313–573 K and 0.1 MPa, based on Gibbs free energy global minimization, an improved genetic algorithm was used for the thermodynamic equilibrium analysis on the synthesis processes of alkyl glyceryl ethers, respectively, from methanol + glycerol, ethanol + glycerol, isobutanol + glycerol, and tert‐butanol + glycerol. The columnar stacking charts and three‐dimensional contour graphs were used to compare the effects of temperature, pressure, and the feed ratio to the equilibrium conversion, product selectivity, and equilibrium composition. The basic laws of the synthesis processes of alkyl glycerol ethers in homogeneous and heterogeneous states were investigated in a wide temperature range. Through comparison, it was found that the isopropanol + glycerol system is easier to convert into alkyl glycerol ethers, followed by the ethanol + glycerol system. The methanol + glycerol system and tert‐butanol + glycerol system are greatly affected by pressure and temperature, and their conversions and selectivities are relatively low.