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Enhanced Conversion in the Direct Synthesis of Diethyl Carbonate from Ethanol and CO 2 by Process Intensification
Author(s) -
Arbeláez Oscar,
Hernández Elena,
González Lina-María,
Bustamante Felipe,
Villa Aída-Luz
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
chemical engineering and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.403
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1521-4125
pISSN - 0930-7516
DOI - 10.1002/ceat.201800456
Subject(s) - membrane , membrane reactor , permeation , ethanol , zeolite , chemistry , diethyl carbonate , chemical engineering , packed bed , carbonate , activated carbon , catalysis , inorganic chemistry , chromatography , organic chemistry , adsorption , ethylene carbonate , biochemistry , electrode , engineering , electrolyte
To overcome the low equilibrium conversion in the direct synthesis of diethyl carbonate from ethanol and CO 2 under moderate reaction conditions, the reaction was conducted in a membrane reactor packed with pelletized Cu‐Ni:3‐1 supported on activated carbon. A SiO 2 / γ ‐Al 2 O 3 commercial membrane and zeolite A membranes synthesized on commercial Al 2 O 3 supports were evaluated in the membrane reactor. Although characterization of the membranes by X‐ray diffraction confirmed the presence of a zeolite A layer on the supports, gas permeation and permselectivity tests of ethanol and water evidenced some defects of the synthesized membranes. An increase in conversion with respect to a conventional packed‐bed reactor was observed in the membrane reactors prepared on Al 2 O 3 , but equilibrium conversion was not attained. However, with the commercial membrane, the ethanol conversion was higher than the equilibrium conversion.