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Continuous nitration of o-dichlorobenzene in micropacked-bed reactor: process design and modelling

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Abstract

The matching of the micro-dispersion method and the reaction kinetics is of the utmost importance for the fast and strongly exothermic nitration reaction. Taken as an example to discuss this issue, a synthesis of 3,4-dichloronitrobenzene via the nitration of o-dichlorobenzene with mixed acid of nitric acid and sulfuric acid was conducted in continuous-flow reactors in this work. Through combining the adiabatic reaction environment, the use of a micropacked-bed reactor, and introducing partial product circulation, it successfully achieved the matching of the micro-dispersion state and the reaction kinetic characteristics. The good two-phase dispersion state can be maintained throughout the micropacked-bed reactor and the reaction can be completed within 5 s with above 89% selectivity under adiabatic condition. Furthermore, the reaction activation energy was conveniently obtained by processing the temperature distribution data, providing a fundamental to realize a reliable design of the nitration reaction process with high efficiency and inherent safety.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant (21422603, U1662120, 21978152).

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant (21422603, U1662120, 21978152).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China

    Zhou Lan & Yangcheng Lu

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  1. Zhou Lan
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Article Highlights

• Study apparent reaction kinetic of the nitration of o-dichlorobenzene under various micro-dispersion methods.

• Proposed strategy combination of the adiabatic and micropacked-bed reactor for process intensification and control.

• Enable rapid determination of activation energy by the measurement of adiabatic temperature rise.

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Lan, Z., Lu, Y. Continuous nitration of o-dichlorobenzene in micropacked-bed reactor: process design and modelling. J Flow Chem 11, 171–179 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41981-020-00132-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41981-020-00132-3

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