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A preliminary evaluation of a continuous‐flow reactor for liquid–liquid–solid phase‐transfer catalyzed synthesis of n ‐butyl phenyl ether
Author(s) -
Hsiao HsuChin,
Li WeiChi,
Weng HungShan
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/jctb.1151
Subject(s) - catalysis , batch reactor , bromide , chemistry , ether , phase (matter) , chemical engineering , continuous reactor , plug flow , plug flow reactor model , chemical reactor , continuous stirred tank reactor , organic chemistry , thermodynamics , engineering , physics
This study evaluates the feasibility of using a continuous‐flow stirred vessel reactor (CFSVR) to synthesize n ‐butyl phenyl ether (ROPh) from n ‐butyl bromide (RBr) and sodium phenolate (NaOPh) by liquid–liquid–solid phase‐transfer catalysis (triphase catalysis). The factors affecting the preparation of triphase catalysts, the etherification reaction in a batch reactor, and the performance in a CFSVR were investigated. The kinetic study with a batch reactor indicated that when the initial concentration of NaOPh or RBr was high, the conversion of RBr would depend on the initial concentration of both RBr and NaOPh. The reaction can be represented by a pseudo‐first‐order kinetic model when the concentration of NaOPh is in proper excess to that of RBr, and the apparent activation energy is 87.8 kJ mol −1 . When the etherification reaction was carried out in the CFSVR, the catalyst particles did not flow out of the reactor, even at a high agitation speed. The conversion of RBr in the CFSVR was, as predicted, lower than that in the batch reactor, but was higher than the theoretical value because the dispersed phase is not completely mixed. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry