Distillation homogeneous

Fig. 2.15 Equipment suitable for combining reaction and distillation (homogeneous catalysis)...

When a multicomponent fluid mixture is nonideal, its separation by a sequence of ordinaiy distillation columns will not be technically and/or economically feasible if relative volatiK-ties between key components drop below 1.05 and, particularly, if azeotropes are formed. For such mixtures, separation is most commonly achieved by sequences comprised of ordinary distillation columns, enhanced distillation columns, and/or liquid-liquid extraction equipment. Membrane and adsorption separations can also be incorporated into separation sequences, but their use is much less common. Enhanced distillation operations include extractive distillation, homogeneous azeotropic distillation, heterogeneous azeotropic distillation, pressure-swing distillation, and reactive distillation. These operations are considered in detail in Perry s Chemical Engineers Handbook (Perry and Green, 1997) and by Seader... 

As pointed out previously, the separation of homogeneous fluid mixtures requires the creation or addition of another phase. The most common method is by repeated vaporization and condensation— distillation. The three principal advantages of distillation are... 

Distillation is by far the most commonly used method for the separation of homogeneous fluid mixtures. The cost of distillation varies with operating pressure, which, in turn, is mainly determined by the molecular weight of the materials being separated. Its widespread use can be attributed to its ability to... 

Into a 750 ml. round-bottomed flask furnished with a reflux condenser place a solution of 34 g. (18-5 ml.) of concentrated sulphuric acid in 100 ml, of water add 33 g. of di-n-butyl cyanamide and a few fragments of porous porcelain. Reflux gently for 6 hours. Cool the resulting homogeneous solution and pour in a cold solution of 52 g. of sodium hydroxide in 95 ml. of water down the side of the flask so that most of it settles at the bottom without mixing with the solution in the flask. Connect the flask with a condenser for downward distillation and shake it to mix the two layers the free amine separates. Heat the flask when the amine with some water distils continue the distillation until no amine separates from a test portion of the distillate. Estimate the weight of water in the distillate anp add about half this amount of potassium hydroxide in the form of sticks, so that it dissolves slowly. 

In a 500 ml. flask, fitted with a reflux condenser, place 53 g. of 1-chloro-methylnaphthalene (Section IV.23), 84 g, of hexamethylenetetramine and 250 ml. of 1 1 acetic acid [CAUTION 1-Chloromethylnaphtha-lene and, to a lesser degree, a-naphthaldehyde have lachrymatory and vesicant properties adequate precautions should therefore be taken to avoid contact with these substances.] Heat the mixture under reflux for 2 hours it becomes homogeneous after about 15 minutes and then an oil commences to separate. Add 100 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid and reflux for a further 15 minutes this will hydrolyse any SchifiF s bases which may be formed from amine and aldehyde present and will also convert any amines into the ether-insoluble hydrochlorides. Cool, and extract the mixture with 150 ml. of ether. Wash the ether layer with three 50 ml. portions of water, then cautiously with 50 ml. of 10 per cent, sodium carbonate solution, followed by 50 ml. of water. Dry the ethereal solution with anhydrous magnesium sulphate, remove the ether by distillation on a steam bath, and distil the residue under reduced pressure. Collect the a-naphthaldehyde at 160-162718 mm. the yield is 38 g. 

Hydrolysis of benzyl cyanide to phenylacetamide. In a 1500 ml. three-necked flask, provided with a thermometer, reflux condenser and efficient mechanical stirrer, place 100 g. (98 ml.) of benzyl]cyanide and 400 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid. Immerse the flask in a water bath at 40°. and stir the mixture vigorously the benzyl cyanide passes into solution within 20-40 minutes and the temperature of the reaction mixture rises to about 50°, Continue the stirring for an additional 20-30 minutes after the mixture is homogeneous. Replace the warm water in the bath by tap water at 15°, replace the thermometer by a dropping funnel charged with 400 ml. of cold distilled water, and add the latter with stirring crystals commence to separate after about 50-75 ml. have been introduced. When all the water has been run in, cool the mixture externally with ice water for 30 minutes (1), and collect the crude phenylacetamide by filtration at the pump. Remove traces of phenylacetic acid by stirring the wet sohd for about 30 minutes with two 50 ml. portions of cold water dry the crystals at 50-80°. The yield of phenylacetamide, m.p. 154-155°, is 95 g. RecrystaUisation from benzene or rectified spirit raises the m.p. to 156°. 

Step 3. The neutral components. The ethereal solution (E remaining after the acid extraction of Step 2 should contain only the neutral compounds of Solubility Groups V, VI and VII (see Table XI,5). Dry it with a little anhydrous magnesium sulphate, and distil off the ether. If a residue is obtained, neutral compounds are present in the mixture. Test a portion of this with respect to its solubility in concentrated sulphuric acid if it dissolves in the acid, pour the solution slowly and cautiously into ice water and note whether any compound is recovered. Examine the main residue for homogeneity and if it is a mixture devise procedures, based for example upon differences in volatility, solubility in inert solvents, reaction with hydrolytic and other reagents, to separate the components. 

The selective addition of the second HCN to provide ADN requires the concurrent isomerisation of 3PN to 4-pentenenitrile [592-51 -8] 4PN (eq. 5), and HCN addition to 4PN (eq. 6). A Lewis acid promoter is added to control selectivity and increase rate in these latter steps. Temperatures in the second addition are significandy lower and practical rates may be achieved above 20°C at atmospheric pressure. A key to the success of this homogeneous catalytic process is the abiUty to recover the nickel catalyst from product mixture by extraction with a hydrocarbon solvent. 2-Methylglutaronitrile [4553-62-2] MGN, ethylsuccinonitfile [17611-82-4] ESN, and 2-pentenenitrile [25899-50-7] 2PN, are by-products of this process and are separated from adiponitrile by distillation. 

Catalyst recovery is a major operational problem because rhodium is a cosdy noble metal and every trace must be recovered for an economic process. Several methods have been patented (44—46). The catalyst is often reactivated by heating in the presence of an alcohol. In another technique, water is added to the homogeneous catalyst solution so that the rhodium compounds precipitate. Another way to separate rhodium involves a two-phase Hquid such as the immiscible mixture of octane or cyclohexane and aliphatic alcohols having 4—8 carbon atoms. In a typical instance, the carbonylation reactor is operated so the desired products and other low boiling materials are flash-distilled. The reacting mixture itself may be boiled, or a sidestream can be distilled, returning the heavy ends to the reactor. In either case, the heavier materials tend to accumulate. A part of these materials is separated, then concentrated to leave only the heaviest residues, and treated with the immiscible Hquid pair. The rhodium precipitates and is taken up in anhydride for recycling. 

Homogeneous rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation (135,136) of propene to -butyraldehyde (qv) was commercialized in 1976. -Butyraldehyde is a key intermediate in the synthesis of 2-ethyIhexanol, an important plasticizer alcohol. Hydroformylation is carried out at <2 MPa (<290 psi) at 100°C. A large excess of triphenyl phosphine contributes to catalyst life and high selectivity for -butyraldehyde (>10 1) yielding few side products (137). Normally, product separation from the catalyst [Rh(P(C2H2)3)3(CO)H] [17185-29-4] is achieved by distillation. 

The first step in the synthesis of a homogeneous azeotropic distillation sequence is to determine the separation objective. Eor example, sometimes it is deskable to recover all of the constituents in the mixture as pure components, other times it is sufficient to recover only some of the pure components as products. In other cases an azeotrope may be the desked product. Not every objective is attainable and those that are feasible may requke different distillation sequences. 

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