Catalytic distillation aldol condensation

The first commercial and most well-known application of CD was in the production of MTBE. Besides etherification for the production of MTBE, CD could be applied in a number of processes such as alkylation, hydrogenation, isomerization, esterification, desulfurization, aldol condensation, oligomerization, hydration, hydrolysis, amination, and halogenation. Catalytic Distillation Technology (CDTECH), a partnership between ABB Lummus Global and Chemical Research and Licensing, is the leader in the development and commercialization of CD processes particularly related to the refining, petrochemical, and chemical industries. However, there are many more potential applications of CD that could be developed. 

Huang, C. Yang, L. Ng, F.T.T. Rempel, G.L. Application of catalytic distillation for the aldol condensation of acetone a rate-based model in simulating the catalytic distillation performance under steady-state operations. Chem. Eng. Sci. 1998, 53 (19), 3489-3499. 

Y Zheng, FTT Ng, GL Rempel. Catalytic distillation A three-phase nonequilibrium model for the simulation of the aldol condensation of acetone. Ind Eng Chem Res. 40 5342-5349, 2001. 

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