Possibilities of process intensification using microwaves applied to catalytic microreactors
Special Symposium - EPIC-1: European Process Intensification Conference - 1
EPIC-1: Poster Session (EPIC - Poster) - P2
Keywords: process intensification, microwaves, microreactors, catalysis
Possibilities of process intensification using microwaves applied to catalytic microreactors
R. Cecilia, U. Kunz, T. Turek
Institute of Chemical Process Engineering, Clausthal University of Technology,
Leibnizstr. 17, 38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany
Microreactors are widely recognized not only as a useful tool for the enhancement of chemical reactions but as a straightforward art of process Intensification. One of the main reasons is an improved mass transfer inside the channels of microreactors and an excellent control of their thermal behaviour. On the other hand, the application of alternative energy sources is an intensification tool under development. The application of microwave heating to chemical reactions is used mainly in organic synthesis to speed up throughput in chemical laboratories. A basic question in this research field is: can chemical reactions be enhanced inside microreactors if the reactor is heated with microwaves?
To investigate this question we developed a composite material consisting of a microwave transparent porous carrier with functionalized polymer particles filling the space inside the carrier channels. Dispersed in the polymer phase, Pd metal sites have been created, acting as a catalyst for different chemical reactions [1]. Due to the composite structure, the system can be treated as a parallel association of packed bed microreactors.
A first approach to the modelling of the temperature behaviour of the Pd nanoparticles, the polymer phase and the liquid phase flowing through the channels under microwave irradiation has been done. We investigated the influence of several parameters with respect to the creation of a temperature gradient between the particles and the liquid (the so called hot spot effect).
A transfer hydrogenation of Ethyl Cinnamate using Cyclohexene as a hydrogen donor has been investigated as a test reaction using our Pd loaded composite materials and microwave irradiation. The kinetic results obtained validate the mathematical model and show the limitations of this emerging technology.
References
[1] U. Kunz, A. Kirschning, H.-L Wen, W. Solodenko, R. Cecilia, C.O. Kappe, T. Turek. Catalysis Today 105 (2005) 318-324.
Presented Thursday 20, 13:30 to 14:40, in session EPIC-1: Poster Session (EPIC - Poster) - P2.
