Improving the Performance of a Simulated Moving Bed Reactor for the Synthesis of Solketal by Implementing Multifeed Strategy

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2022

Authors

Faria, RPV (Author) Other; Goncalves, JC (Author) Other; Correa, I (Author) Other; Ana M. Ribeiro (Author) FEUP; Rodrigues, AE (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research

Vol. 61

ISSN: 0888-5885

Publisher: American Chemical Society

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 0 Citations

Associated Projects

LA LSRE-LCM - Financiamento Plurianual 2020-2023 para a Unidade LA LSRE-LCM Laboratório de Processos de Separação e Reacção - Laboratório de Catálise e Materiais

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00X-784

DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.2c01352

Abstract (EN): The simulated moving bed reactor (SMBR) is a sorption-enhanced reactive technology that has been successfully applied to the synthesis of several organic compounds, due to its ability to overcome the thermodynamic limitations associated with reversible reactions. This work proposes the implementation of an innovative multifeed strategy that can considerably improve the performance of the SMBR, particularly for systems in which none of the reactants can be used as desorbent. A systematic design methodology based on the so-called reactive-separation volumes is developed and applied for the first time, and the results for the multifeed SMBR are compared to those obtained in a conventional SMBR. Due to its industrial relevance, the synthesis of solketal through the ketalization of glycerol and acetone was selected as a case study. The results demonstrated that the new SMBR operating mode can produce solketal with a purity of 97%, reaching a productivity of over 10 kg(Solk) L-Ads( -1) day( -1), while for a conventional unit this is barely possible. Moreover, it led to a reduction in desorbent consumption of 85%.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 15