What You Need to Know
Reactive distillation is a process where the chemical reactor is also the still. Separation of the product from the reaction mixture does not need a separate distillation step which saves energy and materials. This technique can be useful for equilibrium-limited reactions such as esterification and ester hydrolysis reactions. Conversion can be increased beyond what is expected by the equilibrium due to the continuous removal of reaction products from the reactive zone. This approach can also reduce capital and investment costs.
Key Parameters
Temperature
100°C
50°C - 150°C
Time
1 hour
30 minutes - 2 hours
Equipment
Steps
- 1.
Traditional balsamic vinegar (Italy): Concentrates flavors through simultaneous fermentation and distillation
- 2.
Shochu production (Japan): Continuous removal of alcohol during fermentation
- 3.
Rum distillation (Caribbean): Simultaneous fermentation and alcohol separation
The Science
Primary Reaction
Esterification