Modeling, Simulation, and Experimental Study of a Simulated Moving Bed Reactor for the Synthesis of Methyl Acetate Ester

Abstract

In this work, the performance of a simulated moving bed reactor (SMBR) for the synthesis of methyl acetate catalyzed by Amberlyst 15 ion-exchange resin was evaluated numerically and experimentally. A rigorous mathematical model was developed to describe the dynamic behavior of SMBR and validated experimentally at different operating conditions. It was found that the model could predict the experimental results quite well. A high yield and purity of methyl acetate and nearly complete conversion of the limiting reactant, acetic acid, could be achieved in the SMBR by selecting proper operating conditions. The effects of various process parameters such as switching time, feed, eluent flow rate, etc., on the behavior of the SMBR was also investigated systematically.