Reactors laboratory: batch, recycle

To be applied industrially, performance must be superior to that of the existing catalytic systems (activity, regioselectivity and recyclability). The use ofionic liquid biphasic technology for nickel-catalyzed olefin dimerization proved to be successful and this system has been developed and is now proposed for commercialization. However, much effort remains if the concept is to be extended to non-chloroaluminate ionic liquids. In particular, the true potential ofionic liquids (and mixtures containing ionic liquids) could be achievable if an even more substantial body of thermophysical and thermodynamic properties were amassed in order that the best medium for a given reaction could be chosen. As far as industrial applications are concerned, the easy scale-up of two-phase catalysis can be illustrated by the first 0X0 commercial unit with an initial capacity of 100 000 tons extrapolated by a factor of 1 24 000 (batch-wise laboratory development to production reactor) after a development period of 2 years [4]. 

In Fig. 21.7 a laboratory scale PMR coupling photocatalysis with MF is shown. The PMR was applied for the removal of trichloroethylene (TCE) from water (Choo et al., 2008). The system was composed of a photocatalytic reactor (volume of 700 cm ) and a hollow fiber MF module (effective membrane surface area of 20.7 cm ). A UV-A light source was placed in the inner chamber of the photoreactor, whereas in the outer chamber the solution undergoing the photocatalytic reaction was flowing. Feed from the feed tank was pumped through the photoreactor to the membrane module. The PMR was operated either in batch or in continuous mode. In batch operations, the permeate and retentate were recycled to the photoreactor. In continuous mode, the permeate was discharged and the same volume of the solution was fed into the reactor. Thus the working volume of the photoreactor was maintained at a constant level. 

Laboratory catalytic reactors include many types pulse, batch, tubular (differential and integral), CSTR, recycle, and transport. Figure 8.1 is an illustration of this group. The details of CSTR are given in Figure 8.2. 

---