Mixing effects in the bromination of resorcin

The product distribution from the bromination of resorcin (m-dihydroxybenzene) is influenced by mixing in an experimentally convenient range of concentration and mixing intensity at room temperature. The degree of bromination is insensitive to mixing, a fact which can be explained chemically. Similarly explicable is the high sensitivity of the composition of the isomeric dibromoresorcins; the % 2,4-dibromoresorcin formed has been used to characterise mixing in semi-continuous and continuous stirred tank reactor operation. In the latter case the influences of the concentration and flow rate of the feed, turbine speed and feed positions near the turbine were investigated. Although full reaction kinetics are not available, these reactions are fast and sensitive enough to study micromixing.