Sorption-Enhanced Reaction With Simulated Moving Bed Reactor and PermSMBR Technologies

Abstract Two of the most recent and promising multifunctional reactors, the Simulated Moving Bed Reactor and the Simulated Moving Bed Membrane Reactor, for the synthesis of oxygenated compounds, were addressed focusing on the methodology for the development and implementation of these technologies based on experimental data and suitable mathematical models. Moreover, different case studies, involving acetals and esters, using the different reactor configurations were illustrated. The two types of reactors were compared under the same operating conditions and, after that, individually optimized in order to find the optimal operating conditions for which the maximum performance is achieved. The Simulated Moving Bed Reactor proved to be a very competitive process for the synthesis that involves equilibrium-limited reactions. This technology, which combines reaction with chromatographic separation, revealed a strong ability to increase the equilibrium conversion with high productivities and reasonable desorbent consumptions by the continuous removal of water through selective adsorption. However, diluted products are obtained and subsequent units for the products purification are required. Combining the Simulated Moving Bed Reactor with water-selective membranes, a new technology was generated, the Simulated Moving Bed Membrane Reactor also designated by PermSMBR. This recent concept that comprises reaction and two different separation techniques exhibited excellent performance for acetals and esters synthesis, even improving the previous reactor productivities with significant reduction on the desorbent demand. Furthermore, its dimensions can be reduced without affecting the productivity, leading to higher savings on the desorbent consumption and lower associated desorbent recovery costs.

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