The role of ethylene oxide solubility in the ethoxylation process was studied to determine the influence on both the kinetics and the behavior in different reactors [1,2]. The key factors in alkoxylation technology were examined [3-6]:
- (i) the types of reactors employed and their performances;
- (ii) the role of kinetics and mass transfer in the process;
- (iii) the safety problem.
The reactors widely employed in industry can be classified as: (a) Semibatch Stirred Tank Reactors; (b) Venturi Loop Reactor and (c) Spray Tower Loop Reactors.
In the first two types of reactors, the gas phase is dispersed into the liquid phase; on the contrary, in the latter case, the liquid phase is dispersed into the gaseous one.
1- Catalysis Today (1995), 24(1-2), 23-28.
2- Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research (1995), 34(11), 4092-4098.
3- Chemical Engineering Science (1999), 54(10), 1499-1504.
4- Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research (2000), 39(11), 4082-4093.
5- Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research (2005), 44(25), 9482-9489.
6- Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries (2007), 20(3), 238-250.