A comparison of a pseudo-homogeneous non-equilibrium model and a three-phase non-equilibrium model for catalytic distillation

A comparison of computer simulation results of catalytic distillation (CD) obtained from a three-phase non-equilibrium model and a pseudo-homogeneous non-equilibrium model was performed. Simulations were carried out on the CD processes for the production of ethyl cellosolve (EC) and diacetone alcohol (DAA) using both the pseudo-homogeneous non-equilibrium model and the three-phase non-equilibrium model. Similar results for the synthesis of EC were obtained using these two models. However, only the three-phase non-equilibrium model could adequately describe the CD process for the aldol condensation of acetone (Ac) at low reflux flow rates. Hence our results suggest that for a reaction system that is kinetically controlled, a pseudo-homogeneous non-equilibrium may adequately simulate the temperature profile, yield and selectivity for a CD process. However, for a CD process that is sensitive to solid–liquid mass transfer, the three-phase non-equilibrium model is required.