Analysis of reactor–separator processes for polymeric and oligomeric degradation products with controlled molar mass distributions

Abstract Integration of reaction and separation is attractive in production biobased oligomers short polymers from polysaccharides proteins via catalytic degradation. The challenge lies controlling the molar mass distribution. Theoretical analysis for process integration performed conventional CSTR, a multifunctional reactor, reactor-separator-recycle processes. Closed-form solutions balance equations are obtained coupled serial-parallel first-order reactions. influence separators’ cut-off range sharpness on feasible operating parameter performance visualized. It found that membrane reactor may be less productive than CSTR if total concentration limited. An additional separator to recycle solvent significantly improves purity productivity. Solvent recycling decouples feed rate residence time product molecules. To maximize productivity, no molecules should retained whereas recycled can impure.