Reactive stripping in pilot scale monolith reactors-application to esterification

Reactive and non-reactive stripping experiments in a pilot scale reactor (2 m column length, 43 mm column diameter) showed that the stripping is improved by lower pressures, higher strip gas flows or higher temperature. For the liquid to gas phase mass transfer, no significant differences between different monolith types (internally finned, square, rounded) were observed. Low selectivities can be increased by elevated acid concentrations. As the reaction is in first order to the acid, additionally the reaction rate is increased. However, higher acid concentrations cause higher water contents due to a shift of the VLE, thus limiting the enhancement of the reaction rate.