Millistructured Reactor as Tool for Investigating the Kinetics of Maleic Anhydride Synthesis

A nearly isothermal millistructured fixed-bed reactor was used to investigate the kinetics of the selective oxidation of n-butane to maleic anhydride. In addition to the investigation of a broad range of industrially relevant conditions, the focus was on the influence of the reaction products on the kinetics. For this purpose, a saturator for the accurate dosing of the target product MA was developed. The experimental data were used to derive a reaction network comprising the by-products acetic and acrylic acid. Additionally, the inhibition of the associated reactions by reactants and products was investigated.