Example 2 THF Formation

Limbeck et al. [34] have studied the kinetics of this irreversible reaction at macroporous acidic ion exchange resins as catalysts. In this reaction, the byproduct water has a significant affinity with the catalyst, and thus severely inhibits the catalytic reaction. Therefore, these authors proposed the following rate expression  

The boiling point of THF at 5 atm (404.2 K) is chosen as the reference temperature. The liquid phase activity coefficients were calculated using the Wilson equation 

4 Thermodynamic and Kinetic Effects on the Feasible Products of Reactive Distillation 

Since water is the byproduct, and also has an undesired inhibitory effect on catalyst activity, it must be separated efficiently from the reaction mixture. To achieve this, both conventional reactive distillation and reactive membrane separation are considered as process alternatives. In the latter process, a Knudsen-membrane is applied. Consequently, the mass transfer matrix [/c] has a diagonal structure and the diagonal elements are the Knudsen-selectivities - that is, the square-roots of the ratios of the molecular weights Mr. 

water will pass preferentially through the Knudsen-membrane. 

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