Abstract

DIAZ, LUIS; ZEA, HUGO  and  SANCHEZ, FRANCISCO. HYDRODYNAMIC EFFECTS ASOCIATED TO METHYL ESTER SULPHONATION IN FALLING FILM REACTORS. Dyna rev.fac.nac.minas [online]. 2013, vol.80, n.178, pp.44-50. ISSN 0012-7353.

Falling film reactors (FFR) are widely used in industry, mainly in those processes which require an efficient heat exchange. Although, these devices have been studied for several years, there is not yet a full understanding of their behavior. This is due to the fact that the performance of the FFRs can be easily influenced by hydrodynamic factors which affect transport phenomena in the reactor. In this study, an experimental analysis of hydrodynamic factors influencing a FFR is presented, paying special attention to hydrodynamic phenomena such as the phases' flow regimens and the residence time for the sulphonation of methyl ester (ME) from palm oil with SO₃. The results show that along with the SO₃/ME ratio the hydrodynamic of both phases (gas and liquid) present in the reactor have a strong influence over the sulphonation efficiency

Keywords : sulphonation; falling film reactor (FFR); Hydrodynamic; Methyl esters (ME).

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in English     · English ( pdf )