Unsteady state simulation and process design of a batch reactive distillation column with multiple side reactors for benzyl chloride production

Yu Yu Sun, Ji Hai Tang, Xian Chen, Mi Fen Cui, Zhao Yang Fei, Xu Qiao

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

A batch distillation column coupled with multiple side reactors was established to produce benzyl chloride through toluene chlorination, and its unsteady state process was simulated using Aspen Plus. The influences of reactor number, extraction ratio, extraction position, chlorine distribution, distillation time and boil-up ratio on the performance of batch reactive distillation were investigated. The simulation results indicate that the best match between reaction and separation can be achieved, and the optimal parameters are as follows: column tray 8, side reactor number 2, chlorine distribution 7:3, 85% of the liquid flow extracted from the 3rd stage into the 2nd reactor and boil-up ratio 25 kmol·h-1. Under the optimum conditions, 50 kmol toluene can be converted to benzyl chloride in 9 h with both conversion and selectivity up to 98.0%.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)388-394
Number of pages7
JournalGao Xiao Hua Xue Gong Cheng Xue Bao/Journal of Chemical Engineering of Chinese Universities
Volume29
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Apr 2015

Keywords

  • Batch reactive distillation
  • Benzyl chloride
  • Process design
  • Side reactor
  • Unsteady state simulation

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