Experimental Investigation and Modeling Approach of the Phenylacetonitrile Alkylation Process in a Microreactor

The application of microreaction technology has the potential to intensify chemical processes. It is therefore of great interest to investigate the operating efficiency of a multiphase process such as the alkylation of phenylacetonitrile in a microreactor and to compare the performance to a batch reactor. The undeniable advantages of continuous microreactor systems for this process were demonstrated. Furthermore, the influence of the organic to aqueous phase ratio in the microreactor was investigated. A model of the reaction course was formulated based on experimental data. This model was used in the analysis and modeling of the alkylation process in a microreactor and found to be adequate. The optimal microreactor performance conditions were determined using the numerical optimization technique (Harrington's desirability function) and confirmed by experiments. The application of microreactors has the potential to considerably intensify chemical processes, especially those occurring on the phase boundary. The phase‐transfer alkylation of phenylacetonitrile was used to evaluate the operating efficiency of a microreactor and compare it to the performance of a batch reactor.