Reaction Kinetics forReactive Distillation UsingDifferent Laboratory Reactors

The reaction kinetics of the heterogeneously catalyzed\nesterification\nof n-hexyl acetate were measured using both a batch\nreactor and continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR). The catalyst was\nAmberlyst CSP2. The results of the batch reactor and CSTR experiments\nwere compared to reaction kinetic measurements carried out in previous\nwork using a plug-flow reactor (PFR). Because the change in the composition\nof the reaction mixture in the batch reactor is caused not only by\nreaction but also by component-specific adsorption on the catalyst,\nthe batch reactor is not recommended for reaction kinetic measurements\nof the present type of chemical system. The results from the CSTR\nand PFR are in very good agreement with regard to the measured rate\nof reaction. To address the impact of the conditions present in a\nheterogeneously catalyzed reactive distillation (HCRD) column on the\nperformance of the catalyst, the influences of boiling and of the\nreduction of the low-boiling components (here, water) on the rate\nof reaction were investigated using the CSTR. Neither was found to\nhave a significant impact on the performance of the catalyst. A simple\npseudohomogeneous model was fitted to the data of the CSTR experiments\nusing a reparameterized Arrhenius equation to avoid parameter coupling.\nThe model predictions and experimental results are in good agreement.