Experimental and numerical study of the synthesis of isopropyl propionate in microreactor

Microreactors have been widely used with advantageous of large specific surface area, excellent heat and mass transfer performance. In this paper, experimental numerical study were carried out to analyze the thermal hazard associated synthesis isopropyl propionate in a microreactor. study, effects reaction temperature, catalyst amount, channel diameter flow rate investigated. The optimal condition was as follows: 2 mm, amount 0.8%, reactant ratio n(propionic anhydride): n(isopropanol) = 1:1, V (propionic anhydride + isopropanol) 1 ml/min, temperature T 60 °C. condition, conversion propionic reached 89.9% space–time yield 2.39 × 10 6 mol m −3 h −1 . Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) technology develop model microreactor optimum condition. It showed that coolant material had great influence on distribution temperature. A lower cooling would lead formation barrier jacket. Under same silicate glass better performance safer than other options. • optimized CFD simulation conducted identify Heat coefficient determined along channel.