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A simulation study on continuous direct esterification process for poly(ethylene terephthalate) synthesis
Author(s) -
Kang ChangKwon,
Lee Byoung Chul,
Ihm Dae Woo,
Tremblay David A.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4628(19970110)63:2<163::aid-app4>3.0.co;2-t
Subject(s) - terephthalic acid , dissolution , ethylene glycol , residence time (fluid dynamics) , mass transfer , ethylene , chemical engineering , materials science , plug flow reactor model , residence time distribution , monomer , thermodynamics , continuous stirred tank reactor , chemistry , polyester , organic chemistry , chromatography , polymer , catalysis , mineralogy , engineering , inclusion (mineral) , geotechnical engineering , physics
A mathematical model for a continuous direct esterification reactor has been developed. The solid‐liquid equilibrium of terephthalic acid (TPA) was considered in our modeling, and the characteristic dissolution time, an adjustable parameter, was introduced to account for the mass‐transfer effect in the dissolution of TPA. The effects of the characteristic dissolution time, monomer feed ratio, temperature, and pressure on the reactor performance at different residence times were investigated through simulation. It was observed that the behavior of the first reactor strongly depends on whether the solid TPA is completely dissolved in the reaction mixtures. From the dynamic simulations, it was found that a sudden change in the operating conditions affects the ethylene glycol (EG) vapor flow rate instantly. For the esterification process having two reactors in series, the strategy for time distribution and recycling of EG is also discussed. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.