Batch and Continuous Studies for Ethyl Lactate Synthesis in a Pervaporation Membrane Reactor

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2010

Authors

Carla S.M. Pereira (Author) FEUP; Viviana M. T. M. Silva (Author) FEUP; Simão P. Pinho (Author) FEUP; Alírio E. Rodrigues (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Journal of Membrane Science

Vol. 361 No. 1-2

Pages: 43-55

ISSN: 0376-7388

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 18 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 15 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Chemical engineering

CORDIS: Technological sciences > Engineering > Chemical engineering

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-2R2

DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2010.06.014

Abstract (EN): Pervaporation process using commercial silica water selective membranes was evaluated to contribute for the ethyl lactate process intensification by continuous pervaporation membrane reactor. Preliminary studies were performed in order to assess the existence of membrane defects and mass transfer limitations, studying the influence of feed pressure and flowrate, respectively. After, in the absence of mass transfer limitations, membrane performance was evaluated experimentally, at different composition and temperature measuring the flux and selectivity of each species in binary mixtures (water/ethanol, water/ethyl lactate and water/lactic acid). Thus, species permeances were obtained for each experiment and correlated in order to account for the effect of temperature and feed composition. Permeances of ethanol and ethyl lactate depend solely on the temperature, following an Arrhenius equation; for water, its permeance follows a modified Arrhenius equation taking into account also the dependence on the feed water content. Mathematical models, considering concentration and temperature polarization, and nonisothermal effects as well, were developed and applied to analyze the performance of batch pervaporation and continuous pervaporation membrane reactor, in both isothermal and non-isothermal conditions. The PVMR with five membranes in series, operating at 70 ◦C, leads to 98% of lactic acid conversion and 96% of ethyl lactate purity.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific