Volume 39, Issue 11 pp. 2029-2034
Research Article

Three-Phase Heterogeneously Catalyzed Oxidative Esterification – Relevance of Oxygen Mass Transport

Robin Otterstätter

Corresponding Author

Robin Otterstätter

University of Stuttgart, Institute of Chemical Technology, Stuttgart, Germany.

University of Stuttgart, Institute of Chemical Technology, Stuttgart, Germany.Search for more papers by this author
Horst-Werner Zanthoff

Horst-Werner Zanthoff

Evonik Industries, Marl, Germany.

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Elias Klemm

Elias Klemm

University of Stuttgart, Institute of Chemical Technology, Stuttgart, Germany.

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First published: 06 October 2016
Citations: 2

Abstract

Oxidative esterification of an aldehyde and an alcohol on a heterogeneous catalyst is a green and mild alternative to classic routes to esters. The reaction of methacrolein with methanol and oxygen to methyl methacrylate is considered. A fixed-bed catalyst which has a well-defined core/shell structure and pore size distribution was applied instead of a typically used powder catalyst. It was charged in a fixed-bed reactor with a recycle for liquids, while the oxygen-containing gas was fed continuously. The mass transport of the multiphase reaction system is investigated and the results show the different influences like mass transfer through phase boundaries and diffusion limitations of the oxygen mass transport. Different ways are proposed to increase the oxygen mass transfer and decrease diffusion limitations.

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