Improvement in the Yield of an Equilibrium Esterification Reaction Using a Microreactor for Water Separation

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We developed a microreactor for water separation through a T-type zeolite membrane by pervaporation. The microreactor was applied to an equilibrium esterification reaction of oleic acid, and the experimental rate constants were obtained in order to clarify the reaction mechanisms. The reaction processes were optimized for achieving an improved yield by water separation using microreactors. The addition of water separation to the batch method only improved the yield by 3.1% points from the equilibrium point at a longer reaction time of 180 min. On the other hand, in the microreactor system with water separation, the yield reached 62.6% and was improved by 10.3% points over the equilibrium point after a reaction time of 85.1 min. The experimental reaction rate constant for the forward esterification reaction, k1, for the microreactor system was approximately 5 times larger than that for the batch method. Furthermore, the rate constant for water separation, k2, for microreactors was around 108 times larger than that for the batch method. It was verified that water was effectively separated from the reaction mixture using the microreactor system, providing an improved product.