A Predictive Model for Permeation Flux in a Membrane Reactor: Aspects of Esterification

Abstract:

A polymeric membrane (PERVAP® 2201) was used to study permselectivity and flux of water from esterification mixtures at different temperatures (30°C-90°C) and compositions. The pervaporation flux of water from binary mixtures such as butyl acetate/H₂O, butanol/H₂O, and acetic acid/H₂O was accurately predicted by using a solution-diffusion model with concentration-dependent diffusion coefficients. Furthermore, on the basis of a lower activation energy of diffusion and higher (lux for water, we concluded that butyl acetate production can be enhanced significantly by inserting a reactor membrane (PERVAP® 2201)in the esterification process.