Intensification of Ester Production in a Continuous Reactor

Numerous continuous intensified reactors are now accessible on the market that offer enhanced thermal performances in a continuous reactor. Such reactors are then particularly suited to fast and highly exothermic reactions. In this paper, the ability to also manage a slow and equilibrated system, the methyl acetate esterification reaction, on condition of intensification in terms of design and operating conditions is presented. To achieve this purpose, a new kinetics model has been developed and validated from experiments carried out in a lab scale batch reactor. Implemented in a simulation framework, this model leads to an intensified design of the reactor and the associated operating conditions. All this intensification methodology has been supported and validated by experimental studies.