Evaluation of Potential Designs for a Continuous Epoxidation Reactor

Autor(es)

Olivieri, V, Gustavo ; de Quadros Jr, V, Jacyr ; Giudici, Reinaldo ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] de Quadros Jr, Jr., Jacyr, Olivieri, Gustavo, V, Univ Sao Paulo, Escola Politecn, Dept Chem Engn, BR-05508010 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research; v. 60, n. 39, p. 14099-14112, OCT 6 2021.
• Citações Web of Science: 0

Resumo

A continuous reactor for the epoxidation of soybean oil has been considered in various studies, with various designs. In practice, the existing commercial plants continue to use batch reactors due to capital cost optimization and safety concerns. This article carries out a simulation of a continuous tubular reactor (based on a detailed kinetic model from our previous work), proposing a single addition of all reagents in the absence of catalysts and emulsifiers. The design combines the robust model developed on the basis of bench experiments with industrial experience to evaluate the viability of a continuous flow model. This study provides an analysis of the effects of static mixers in the reaction system, focusing on the safety of the reactor associated with the temperature profile, the quality parameters associated with the epoxidation of vegetable oils (iodine and oxirane indexes), and the acceptable pressure drop. Promising results were obtained from simulations of a proposed reactor design, in which an oxirane index of 5.95% (79.1% net yield of the desired product) was achieved for a 120 min residence time under the most viable conditions. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 19/00289-7 - Estudo da reação de epoxidação do óleo de soja: modelagem cinética e estudo do processo em reator contínuo
• Beneficiário: Gustavo Vieira Olivieri
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 15/50684-9 - Sustainable gas pathways for Brazil: from microcosm to macrocosm
• Beneficiário: Reinaldo Giudici
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Temático