Comparison between the performances of a fluidized-bed reactor and a fixed-bed reactor for the oxidation of benzene to maleic anhydride

Turkish J. Eng. Env. Sci., 36, (2012), 59-71
Turkish Journal of Engineering and Environmental Sciences
Comparison between the performances of a fluidized-bed reactor and a fixed-bed reactor for the oxidation of benzene to maleic anhydride
Canan URAZ, Suheyda ATALAY
canan.uraz@ege.edu.tr
Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ege University, 35100 Bornova, ›zmir-TURKEY
Abstract:
The selective oxidation of benzene to maleic anhydride (MAN) was studied to compare the performances of fluidized-bed and fixed-bed reactors. The gas-phase catalytic oxidation of benzene was carried out in laboratory-scale fluidized-bed and fixed-bed reactors with a vanadium pentoxide catalyst supported by silica gel. The influences of parameters such as temperature, space time, and air-to-benzene molar ratio on the reaction selectivity were investigated at normal atmospheric pressure. Similar operating conditions were provided in the experiments carried out in both reactors. Because of the limitations of the experimental sets-up and the recommended operating conditions given in the literature, some differences could be seen between the reactors.
Researchers observed that the conversion of benzene to MAN increased with increasing temperature in both reactors. It was further found that both the conversion of benzene to MAN (x₁) and the total conversion of benzene (x_T) also increased with increasing air-to-benzene molar ratios. The study shows the availability of the 2 reactors for the oxidation reaction of benzene to MAN.
Free Full Text Source: http://mistug.tubitak.gov.tr/bdyim/abs.php?dergi=muh&rak=1103-14