A green synthesis route of cyclohexanol via transesterification reaction intensified by reactive distillation technology

With the increasing demand of cyclohexanol in nylon industry, it is significant to develop a safe, green and economical process to produce cyclohexanol. For this purpose, a novel reactive distillation process through cyclohexyl acetate transesterification with methanol was proposed in this work. The NKC-9 catalyst was preferred to establish the reaction kinetic model based on pseudo-homogeneous model. Seven reactive distillation experiments with pilot-scale for cyclohexanol synthesis were explored to prove feasibility of reactive distillation processes and accuracy of model by comparing simulated results, which ensured the establishment of the process simulation. Furthermore, three reactive distillation processes of cyclohexanol production were designed and optimized by the sequential iterative algorithm based on minimum total annual cost. After optimization of pressure and recycled stream flow, a novel double column of reactive and pressure-swing hybrid distillation process showed the minimized total annual cost per ton product, which was 170.90 $/kg. Finally, total annual cost of transesterification, hydrolysis and hydrogenation processes were compared, and transesterification process demonstrated economic advantage. This work would provide a guidance for cyclohexanol green production by reactive distillation through cyclohexyl acetate transesterification, while a whole, economical and atomic economical reactive distillation process of cyclohexanol production could be established in the future.