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Title
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Catalytic distillation for the synthesis of tertiary butyl alcohol
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| Author(s) |
Safinski, Tomasz, School of Chemical Engineering & Industrial Chemistry, UNSW
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| Resource Type |
Thesis
PhD Doctorate
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| Keyword(s) |
butanol
distillation
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| Date |
2005 |
| School/Centre |
University of New South Wales. School of Chemical Engineering and Industrial Chemistry |
| Description/Abstract |
Catalytic Distillation for the synthesis of tertiary butyl alcohol (TBA) is investigated in
this thesis. The solvent, ethylene glycol, is proposed as a means of overcoming
challenges, which limit the potential benefits of the application of reactive separation
for TBA. The proposed action of the solvent is that of extractive distillation entrainer,
thus a new unit operation of Catalytic Extractive Distillation (CED) is suggested.
The solubility of isobutylene in water, TBA, and ethylene glycol and their binary and
ternary mixtures, at different temperatures, is measured and correlated. The solubility is
found to be highly non-linear in solutions containing TBA. The kinetics of isobutylene
hydration over Amberlyst 15 is characterised in the presence of ethylene glycol. The
solvent is found to promote reaction rate, however it is also found to compete for
reaction with isobutylene. Water is found to strongly inhibit the reaction of ethylene
glycol and isobutylene. The selectivity ratio of TBA to by products is determined and
found to improve with increased temperature and lower solvent concentration.
Bale packing is chosen as catalytic distillation hardware for the containment of
Amberlyst 15 and its two-phase fluid dynamics characterised for the first time. Raschig
rings are used as a benchmark for the study. Bale packing is found to exhibit two ranges
of backmixing behaviour in the pre-loading regime. This behaviour is attributed to the
three levels of porosity of the hardware and indicative of low rates of catalyst/liquid
renewal.
The effectiveness of ethylene glycol as extractive distillation entrainer for the separation
of the TBA/water azeotrope over Bale packing is investigated and the solvent found to
be highly effective.
The mass transfer resistances to isobutylene transport are determined for countercurrent
fixed bed reactor (CFBR) application of Bale packing. It is found that ethylene glycol
improves mass transfer coefficients attainable. Catalytic Extractive Distillation is implemented over Bale packing and the ability of the solvent to improve reaction rates
and purity of TBA demonstrated. However, the reaction rates achieved have much
scope for improvement through increased isobutylene availability.
In response to poor liquid renewal of static packing such as Bale packing and the
necessity of improved isobutylene transport a new form of catalytic distillation reactor
design is proposed, the Basket Impeller Column (BIC). The BIC combines the mass
transfer benefits of a rotating basket reactor with that of a dual flow column. Capacity of
the new hardware is determined and correlated. Separation and reactive separation are
demonstrated to be feasible. It is found that Damköhler number can be varied directly
using the additional process variable of speed of rotation. |
| Language |
EN |
| Rights |
Please click here to view the rights |
| Citation Link |
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://handle.unsw.edu.au/1959.4/23068 |
| Full Text | 
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| Total Attachment(s) | 2 |
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