Pervaporation membrane reactor design guidelines for the production of methyl acetate

Abstract

A B S T R A C TDesign guidelines were applied for the production of methyl acetate in a pervaporation membrane reactor. The limits of operation were determined. The shift in equilibrium is evaluated by a simple model involving simultaneously chemical equilibrium and transport across the membrane. This analysis establishes possibilities and limitations of a pervaporation membrane reactor. The performance of a continuous stirred tank reactor with a pervaporation membrane (PV-CSTR) is analyzed. To achieve conversions higher than 90%, conditions must satisfy D a > 150 and 0.01 < P e < 100. Increasing temperature has a negative effect on membrane reactor conversion. The effect of sweep is important at high-permeate pressures. Two design charts were created to illustrate dynamics between permeation rates, reaction rates, and selectivity with conversion. The three powerful tools proposed for the analysis of a pervaporation membrane reactor described the system in a systematic way.

Pervaporation membrane reactors (PVMRs) for esterification

“…This reaction can be conducted by using heterogeneous or homogeneous catalysis (this is done not only to catalyze the reaction but also to keep the carboxylic acid in its acid form so that it will react with the nucleophile (Bruice, 2004)). A particular case is the two-step esterification of tartaric acid with ethanol, which is catalyzed by methanesulfonic acid, CH 3 SO 3 H (an example of the use of this catalyst in a PVMR can be found elsewhere (Lopez-Zamora, Fontalvo, & Gomez-Garcia, 2013)). A particular case is the two-step esterification of tartaric acid with ethanol, which is catalyzed by methanesulfonic acid, CH 3 SO 3 H (an example of the use of this catalyst in a PVMR can be found elsewhere (Lopez-Zamora, Fontalvo, & Gomez-Garcia, 2013)).…”

“…Using the same reaction kinetic data obtained by Assabumrungrat et al (2003), Lopez-Zamora et al (2013) published detailed design guidelines when using a CSTR-PVMR configuration. The authors report how the membrane allows an unwanted permeation of methanol, which compromises the performance of the PVMR.…”