Experimental and Modeling Studies for a Reactive Batch Distillation Column

Almila Bahar and Canan Ozgen
Middle East Technical University


Abstract

Modeling of esterification reaction of ethanol with acetic acid in a reactive batch distillation column is investigated. The dynamic model developed is verified using the data of a theoretical study available in the literature. However, the existing models are found to be inappropriate for this system when compared with the experimental data. Then the model is improved using the data obtained from the experiments performed on a lab-scale column. In the model, different rate expressions and different thermodynamic models (fi-fi, EOS-Gex, and gama-fi methods) considering different equations of state (EOS), mixing rules and activity coefficient models are used. It is found that the approach considering van der Waals mixing rule and NRTL activity coefficient model gives the best fit between the dynamic model and the results of the experiments for the system under study.