Synthesis of methylacetate in a simulated moving-bed reactor: Experiments and modeling

Simulated moving‐bed reactors (SMBR) combine chemical reaction and adsorptive separation within one single unit. Toward the design of this rather complex unit, guidelines for the proper choice of the operating parameters, that is, the flow‐rate ratios and the Damköhler numbers within the different sections, have recently been devised based on a mathematical analysis of a linear‐model system. For nonlinear systems, though, the influence of the operating parameters on the unit performance is less well understood. In this work, the interplay between the operating conditions and unit performance is investigated through numerical simulations and experiments, focusing on the influence of the feed stream composition. As a model system, the synthesis of methylacetate from methanol and acetic acid, catalyzed by a sulfonated ion‐exchange resin, is considered. The experiments were carried out in an SMB reactor of miniplant scale. In addition, the reliability of the model predictions is evaluated by comparing the numerical simulation results with experimental data. It is shown through simulations that optimal performance is achieved where the feed to the SMBR is constituted of an equimolar mixture of the two reactants. Simulations and experimental results allow for an understanding of such a result.