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Enhanced hydrogenation in a reverse flow chromatographic reactor
Author(s) -
Viecco Guillermo A.,
Carnish Brad J.,
Caram Hugo S.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
aiche journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.958
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1547-5905
pISSN - 0001-1541
DOI - 10.1002/aic.10779
Subject(s) - chemistry , catalysis , adsorption , mesitylene , mass transfer , volumetric flow rate , simulated moving bed , thermodynamics , chromatography , hydrogen , chemical equilibrium , microreactor , organic chemistry , physics
An experimental study of the reverse flow chromatographic reactor is carried with the equilibrium limited hydrogenation of 1,3,5‐trimethylbenzene (mesitylene, MES) to 1,3,5‐trimethylcyclohexane. The reaction is pseudo first‐order when carried out in excess hydrogen. A simple experimental setup is used to evaluate the effects of carrier flow, reactant feed concentration, and amount of catalyst on conversion. Conversions exceeding the thermodynamic equilibrium conversion are obtained for a wide variety of switching times, catalyst amounts, carrier flow rates, and reactant concentrations, showing the robustness of the system. While the qualitative features of the process can be predicted for a simple linear adsorption equilibrium model, the experimental results are best fitted by assuming a linear adsorption isotherm combined with an adjusted interfacial mass‐transfer resistance. The experimental results are very similar to those reported in previous research of the same reaction in a simulated moving‐bed chromatographic reactor. © 2006 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2006