8.1 Pilot-scale experimental results

The experimental synthesis of methyl acetate esterification was performed in pilot-scale heterogeneous catalytic packed RDC shown in Figure 4. The characteristics of packed RDC are given in Table 2 and temperature data is given in Table 3. From the observations we conclude that the temperature of the reactive zone, from stage 3 to stage 6, lies between 50 and 70°C, which is an ideal condition for production of methyl acetate catalytic esterification reaction. The temperature of stripping zone lies between 50 and 59°C. Temperature of rectifying section lies between 30 and 45°C.

Figure 4. Pilot-scale reactive distillation column.


It is obvious that the product composition continuously increases with respect to

Temperature profile (°C) Pressure (mmHg) Reboiler temp (°C)

T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 P1 P8

Reactive Distillation: Modeling, Simulation, and Optimization

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85433

10 53 52 42 43 41 36 33 22 108 280 66 20 52 56 49 53 51 50 42 27 138 293 66 30 55 57 52 55 55 51 41 30 115 270 70 40 56 56 54 55 61 52 42 40 115 270 70 50 57 55 52 56 61 52 44 41 117 272 69 60 56 59 55 57 68 54 43 40 138 270 72 70 57 58 55 56 65 52 44 40 114 273 70 80 58 59 56 60 64 56 45 40 115 249 66.4 90 58 59 57 60 56 57 40 41 115 249 68 100 56 59 55 57 60 51 44 40 169 300 70 110 56 55 51 55 60 48 42 40 163 295 72 120 56 55 51 55 60 49 43 40 163 294 72

Simulation and optimization are the act of obtaining the best result under given circumstances. Optimization can be defined as the process of finding the conditions that give the maximum or minimum value of a function. Process optimization is the discipline of adjusting a process so as to optimize some specified set of parameters without violating some constraints. The chemical industry has undergone signifi-

cant changes during the past 25 years due to the increased cost of energy,

time and as soon as concentration of reactants decreases, the composition also decreases. For continuous process, continuous supply of reactants is required to maintain the product composition. The variation of composition with time is shown

in Figure 5.

101

Figure 5.

Time (min)

Table 3.

9. Simulation and optimization

Variation in product composition WRT time.

Experimental results of methyl acetate synthesis.
