Macroscopic kinetics modelling of liquid–liquid reaction system: Epoxidation of fatty acid methyl esters

• Published in: Industrial crops and products Vol. 122; pp. 266 - 276
• Main Authors: Wu, Zhenyu, Fang, Jiaojiao, Xie, Qinglong, Zheng, Ting, Wu, Lihang, Lu, Meizhen, Zhang, Lianzhong, Nie, Yong, Ji, Jianbing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.10.2018
• Subjects: Epoxidation; Fatty acid methyl esters; Kinetics; liquid–liquid reacting system; Mass transfer; Epoxidation; Kinetics; liquid–liquid reacting system; Mass transfer; Fatty acid methyl esters
• ISSN: 0926-6690; 1872-633X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2018.06.007

[Display omitted] •Epoxidation of fatty acid methyl esters was studied as a model liquid-liquid reaction.•The effects of various factors on droplet size were investigated and correlated.•Reaction kinetic parameters and mass transfer coefficients were determined using mathematical regression method.•The effect of droplet size on the epoxidation of fatty acid methyl esters was determined.•The mass transfer limitation was significantly increased when reaction temperature rises to 80 °C. In industry, mass transfer limitation is a major and widespread problem in most of vegetable oil epoxidation reactors. To improve the quality of products and the efficiency of production, it is essential to understand the law of mass transfer in the epoxidation reaction system. In present work, epoxidation of fatty acid methyl esters with performic acid generated in situ was studied in a stirred vessel at 50–80 °C. At first, the Sauter mean diameter (D32) was determined and correlated, the correlation can predict the D32 evolution of the reaction. Then, individual experiments were performed to separately determine the intrinsic kinetic parameters and the mass transfer parameters. Finally, a macroscopic kinetic model was developed, which can well describe the effect of droplet size on the reaction. Noteworthy, the mass transfer limitation was significantly increased when reaction temperature rises to 80 °C.