Application of the e-KT-UNIFAC Model for the Improved and Innovative Design of Biphasic Reacting Systems

Biphasic reacting systems contain effectively immiscible aqueous and organic liquid phases in which reactants, products, and catalysts can partition. These conditions allow novel synthesis paths, higher yields, and faster reactions, as well as facilitate product(s) separation. A systematic modeling framework of three modules has been developed to describe phase equilibria, reactions, mass transfer, and material balances of such processes. The recently developed group-contribution electrolyte model, e-KT-UNIFAC, is used to predict the-partitioning and equilibria of electrolyte and nonelectrolyte species for a wide variety of reacting substances. Reaction kinetics and mass transfer are described by nonelementary reaction rate laws. Extents of reaction are used to calculate the species material balances. The resulting mathematical model contains only a few rate parameters to be regressed to a minimum of time-dependent data. In addition to describing the behavior of such systems, predictions can be made of the effectiveness in rates and ultimate amounts of product formation using different organic solvents. The present paper briefly describes the framework and applies it to the cases of epoxidation of palm oil and production of furan derivatives.