Transesterification membrane reactor with organosilica membrane in batch and continuous flow modes

A membrane reactor (MR) using a 1,2-bis(triethoxysilyl)acetylene (BTESA)-derived organosilica membrane was applied for the transesterification reaction by extracting methanol (MeOH) in batch and flow modes. The BTESA membrane exhibited a MeOH flux exceeding 10 kg/(m(2) h) for MeOH/butyl acetate (BA) binary pervaporation with 10 wt% MeOH at 100 ? and a MeOH separation factor exceeding 10(3). The effect of temperature on the liquid-phase batch MR (Batch-MR) performance was investigated at 60-100 ?. The BA yield for methyl acetate (MA)/n-butanol (BuOH) =1 at 100 ? reached 84% after 10 h, which was significantly higher than that achieved at equilibrium (48%). Moreover, the performances of the Batch-MR, continuous stirred tank MR (CST-MR), and plug flow MR (PF-MR) were compared under the same reaction conditions. The PF-MR exhibited a low MeOH permeance owing to concentration polarization, whereas the Batch-MR and CST-MR exhibited a higher per-meance because of vigorous agitation, leading to higher BA yields. Furthermore, the gas-phase PF-MR by vapor permeation (PF-VPMR) was used to prevent concentration polarization. The MeOH permeance of the PF-VPMR was three times higher than that of the liquid-phase PF-MR (PF-PVMR); however, the BA yield at 100 ? of the PF-VPMR was similar to that of the PF-PVMR due to the formation of ethers as by-products. Nevertheless, the BA yield at 80 C of the PF-VPMR was enhanced by more than 10% in relation to that of the PF-PVMR. Thus, the transesterification MR with the BTESA membrane can be used for efficient ester production.

Automated summary

A membrane reactor (MR) using a 1,2-bis(triethoxysilyl)acetylene (BTESA)-derived organosilica membrane was applied for transesterification reaction by extracting methanol (MeOH). The BTESA membrane exhibited high MeOH flux and separation factor. The performances of different MR configurations were compared and the gas-phase plug flow MR by vapor permeation (PF-VPMR) showed potential in preventing concentration polarization.