Mixing and product distribution for a liquid‐phase, second‐order, competitive‐consecutive reaction

Mixing effects for the homogeneous, liquid-phase, second-order, competitive-consecutive reaction of iodine (B) with L-tyrosine (A) to form 3-iodo-L-tyrosine (R) and 3,5-diiodo-L-tyrosine (S) were determined for the following conditions: vessel volume, 5 and 36 liters (baffled and unbaffled); turbine diameter (2 to 6 in.) and speed (95 to 1,600 r.p.m.); feed inlet locations (3), addition rate (0.25 to 18 min.), and distribution; temperature (11° to 43°C.); initial A concentration (0.1 to 0.4 g.-mole/liter); and kinematic viscosity (0.765 to 6.35 centistokes). A was initially charged to the reactor and an equimolar quantity of feed B was added over a time period. Yields of R are less than that expected for perfect mixing owing to local regions of excess B concentration that exist for time periods during which R over-reacts to S. Agitation power for a given yield is less in unbaffled vessels without an air-liquid interface than for baffled vessels. The local fluctuating velocity u′ where feed is introduced correlates the mixing variables and predicts mixing requirements for maintaining yields of R on scale-up. Regions of excess B concentration are related to a concept of partial segregation. The extent of reaction occurring under this condition is correlated by the dimensionless group (k1bτ) (a0/b), where τ is a microtime scale of mixing related to u′ and the characteristic length of a microscale eddy. The magnitude of this group provides a criterion for predicting the importance of mixing effects on other reaction systems.