Promotion system, chemical process

A single analyst can perform an event tree analysis, but nonnally a team of 2 to 4 people is preferred. The team approach promotes "brainstonning" tliat results in a well defined event tree structure. The team should include at least one member witli knowledge of event tree analysis, witli tlie remaining members having e.xperience in tlie operations of tlie systems and knowledge of the chemical processes that are to be of interest in tlie analysis. 

Some of the earliest kinetic studies on metal ion-promoted reactions were carried out on metal ion-promoted decarboxylations of j8-oxo acids. The literature on this topic up to about 1974 has been reviewed. Much of the work has centred on oxaloacetic acid (HO2CCOCH2CO2H = H20xac) and its derivatives, a,a-dimethyl oxaloacetic acid and fluorooxaloacetic acid. Studies have also been made with acetonedicarboxylic acid (3-oxoglutaric acid), " dihydroxyfumaric acid, dihydroxytartaric acid, acetosuccinic acid, oxalosuccinic acid and 2-oxalopropionic acid (Figure 6). The decarboxylation of )3-oxo acids is of considerable biological importance, and in a number of cases metalloenzymes are involved. Similarities in the enzymatic and chemical processes stimulated early interest in these reactions as models for the enzymatic systems. 

Traenkle, F., Zeitz, M., Ginkel, M., Gilles, E.D. PROMOT A modeling tool for chemical processes. Mathematical and Computer Modelling of Dynamical Systems 6, 283-307 (2000)... 

Presently, the ongoing research is focused on monoliths and monolithic catalysts especially with respect to hydrogenation reactions. Industrial hydrogenation is often performed by using slurry catalysts in stirred-tank reactors. These reaction systems are inherently problematic in chemical process safety, operability and productivity, Finely divided powder catalysts are often pyrophoric and require extensive operator handling during reactor charging and filtration. By the nature of their heat cycles for start-up and shut-down, slurry systems promote coproduct formation which can shorten catalysts life and lower yield. There are alternatives to slurry reactors. These include packed-bed and monolith reactors. 

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