Premium
Intensified and safe ozonolysis of fatty acid methyl esters in liquid CO 2 in a continuous reactor
Author(s) -
Lundin Michael D.,
Danby Andrew M.,
Akien Geoffrey R.,
Venkitasubramanian Padmesh,
Martin Kevin J.,
Busch Daryle H.,
Subramaniam Bala
Publication year - 2017
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.15630
Subject(s) - ozonolysis , chemistry , decomposition , thermal decomposition , solvent , continuous stirred tank reactor , organic chemistry , kinetics , fraction (chemistry) , continuous reactor , chemical reactor , chemical engineering , catalysis , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
We demonstrate a continuous reactor for performing the ozonolysis of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) using liquid CO 2 as solvent. The fast reaction kinetics allows the use of small‐volume reactors to completely convert the FAMEs, forming secondary ozonides as the primary products. The short residence times also help maximize the yields of the secondary ozonides by minimizing over‐oxidation and the formation of oligomeric products. The liquid CO 2 medium promotes safe reactor operation by providing an essential fraction of overall reactor cooling and by diluting the vapor phase organics. We also demonstrate a continuous stirred reactor for the safe thermal decomposition of the secondary ozonides to their corresponding acids and aldehydes. Using a lumped kinetic model for the thermal decomposition of the ozonolysis products, we estimate activation energy values of 108.6 ± 0.6 kJ mol −1 for the decomposition of secondary ozonides and 122 ± 3 kJ mol −1 for the decomposition of the undesired oligomeric species. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J , 63: 2819–2826, 2017