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Inter-integration membrane-reactive distillation for EL synthesis: Equipment development and experimental validating
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  • Wentao Han,
  • Zhenwei Han,
  • Xuechao Gao,
  • Zhou Hong,
  • Xingang Li,
  • Hong Li,
  • Xuehong Gu,
  • Xin Gao
Wentao Han
Tianjin University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Zhenwei Han
Tianjin University
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Xuechao Gao
Nanjing Tech University
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Zhou Hong
Nanjing Tech University
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Xingang Li
Tianjin University
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Hong Li
Tianjin University
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Xuehong Gu
Nanjing Tech University
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Xin Gao
Tianjin University
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Abstract

Ethyl levulinate, one of main derivatives of levulinic acid (LA), is of significant potential as platform chemicals for bio-based materials. The esterification of LA was generally carried out in a conventional batch reactor or in a conventional reactive distillation column. However, traditional methods are hard to deal with equilibrium limited reactions and azeotropic issues. Therefore, the reactive-vapor permeation-distillation (R-VP-D) process, which integrated reaction, distillation and membrane dehydration into one single unit, is proposed in this paper and validated in the pilot-scale experiments. A comparative study is made between a pilot-scale RD column with and without vapor permeation membrane module. Owing to the water-selective membrane and the ingenious design of related apparatuses, the R-VP-D process reveal a superiority in LA conversion of 21.9% maximum higher than RD without VP process and removing of product water about 53.6% from VP module, which indicates its promising industrial application in process intensification field.
17 Feb 2021Submitted to AIChE Journal
18 Feb 2021Submission Checks Completed
18 Feb 2021Assigned to Editor
08 Mar 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
04 May 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Major
13 May 20211st Revision Received
16 May 2021Submission Checks Completed
16 May 2021Assigned to Editor
18 May 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
28 Jun 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
03 Jul 20212nd Revision Received
06 Jul 2021Submission Checks Completed
06 Jul 2021Assigned to Editor
06 Jul 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
28 Aug 2021Editorial Decision: Accept