Esterification Reaction Of Methanol Research Articles

ANN for hybrid modelling of batch and fed-batch chemical reactors

An unconventional modelling methodology based on artificial neural networks is proposed to rapidly develop a model from data obtained during different batch experiments.The objective of the global model is to predict time evolution of concentrations of all species present in the reaction medium. For this, different recurrent neural networks are elaborated to estimate a particular species as a function of operating parameters and concentrations of all species and then assembled in a complex global model.To validate the approach, the esterification reaction of methanol by acetic acid, which presents equilibrium, has been chosen. The kinetic evolution of the chemical species during experiments conducted in batch mode are correctly represented whatever the operating conditions. Finally, the global model based on neural networks is integrated in a hybrid model. This permits to transpose the reaction to a semi-batch chemical reactor which has not been considered during the learning phase.

Some insights in experimental studies on the start-up operation of a reactive dividing wall column

The design, simulation, optimization and control of dividing wall distillation columns have been reported in several theoretical studies, and important energy savings are obtained. Also, important information has been reported in the experimental and industrial implementation of this complex distillation option; but for the case of the reactive option, the information is limited. As a result, in this paper, we report the start-up and continuous operation of a reactive dividing wall distillation column for the production of methyl oleate using an esterification reaction of methanol and oleic acid, catalyzed by sulfuric acid. This experimental DWDC has been used previously for the separation of reactive and azeotropic mixtures in batch operation. The experimental results can be useful for the practical implementation and operation of reactive dividing wall distillation columns.

Synthesis of Nano-Sized Protonic Acid Catalyst and Initial Kinetic Study of Esterification Reaction of Methanol with Acetic Acid

Synthesis of Nano-Sized Protonic Acid Catalyst and Initial Kinetic Study of Esterification Reaction of Methanol with Acetic Acid

Acid-activated pillar bentonite as a novel catalyst for the esterification of high FFA oil

Abstract The esterification reaction of methanol with oleic acid or high acid content refined palm oil catalyzed over sulfuric acid-activated pillar bentonite clay was performed. Pillar clay was synthesized using natural Na-bentonite as the raw material by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and hexadecylamine surfactant intercalation, silica pillar polymerization (with tetraethylorthosilicate as the silica source) and then surfactant removal by acid–ethanol refluxing followed by calcination. The pillar bentonite samples were then acid-activated by refluxing with 0.5 M sulfuric acid. The characterization of the raw Na-bentonite, the sulfuric-acid-activated pillar bentonite and the intermediate pillar bentonites, was conducted by nitrogen adsorption-desorption, X-ray powder diffractometry and acid–base titration techniques. The results indicated that the pillar bentonite was successfully prepared and significantly increased the specific surface area 20-fold compared with the parent material. The catalytic activity was related to the acid value and the catalyst surface area, pore size and volume, and was improved by the use of both surfactants, surfactant removal by both acid–ethanol refluxing and calcination, and especially by sulfuric acid activation. The acid-activated pillar clay catalyst exhibited a 100% methyl oleate yield and 99% oleic acid conversion, which was higher than that obtained under the same conditions with the commercial Amberlyst-15 catalyst.

The Control of Attached Acid Groups on Sulfonated Polystyrene Nanospheres through the Design of Material Structure

Linearlinking polystyrene nanospheres (LPSs) with uniform size dispersion were synthesized by the emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization method. And with the adding of divinylbenzene (DVB) crosslinking polystyrene nanospheres (CPSs) was also prepared. It was found out that the partical size of prepared nanospheres changed with the continuous increment of added DVB. The sulfonation of resultant polystyrene nanospheres yielded solids with sulfonic acid groups. The relationship between nanospheres material structure and attached acid groups was investigated in detail. It was observed that the amount of added DVB is the main factor which can affect the amount and thermal stability of attached sulfonic acid groups. The catalytic performance of resultant solid acid catalysts was evaluated through the esterification reaction of methanol with acetic acid. Moreover, the prepared sulfonated polystyrene nanospheres show higher acetic acid conversion than the commercial one, therefore the sulfonated nanospheres could be an excellent potential replacement for liquid acid catalyst.

SOLID SULFONIC ACID CATALYSTS BASED ON POROUS CARBONS AND CARBON–SILICA COMPOSITES

Mesoporous carbons prepared using a templating method under different carbonization temperatures are sulfonated with concentrated H2SO4 . Without the moving of silica template carbon–silica composites were prepared, which can maintain the pore structure well during sulfonation reaction process. The resultant samples are characterized using nitrogen adsorption, transmission electron microscope, field-emission scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and elemental analysis techniques. The catalytic performances of the sulfonated carbons and composites are evaluated by esterification reaction of methanol with acetic acid. The results show that a low-temperature carbonization process is favorable for improving the reaction conversion of acetic acid. In addition, the sulfonated carbon–silica composites show a higher acetic acid conversion than the sulfonated mesoporous carbons.