Optimization of the Catalytic Epoxidation of Oleic Acid in Different Types of Reactors and Operating Conditions

Oleic acid epoxide (E) is produced by catalytic epoxidation of oleic acid (OA) in the presence of benzaldehyde (B) during three reaction steps [1]. Unfortunately, undesired products are formed, including benzoic acid (BA) and perbenzoic acid (PBA). In this study, four different types of reactors are studied comparatively by mathematical modeling at various temperatures. Batch, Semi Batch, single CSTR and two CSTRs in series were modeled and programmed numerically with MATLAB. Approximately, low purity of product (E) was observed in all cases which implies the necessity of separation and purification processes afterward, however selecting the best setup depends on detailed cost investigations, aided by the results of this article. Finally, optimization of operating temperature was carried out. The results show that in order to achieve maximum production, a batch reactor with residence time of 196 minutes or a semi batch reactor with total residence time of 96 and feeding time of 5 minutes, depending on the operating and downstream separation processes cost investigations, are the best It was also observed that to achievemaximum selectivity which was defined as R in the article, a CSTR with residence time of 59 minutes yields the optimum result. This fact clearly highlights that every type of reactor is appropriate for a specific purpose in operation. Finally, 320 was found as the optimum operating temperature.

Keywords:

Reactor , Residence time , Concentration , Reaction , Optimization