Lab-Scale Experimentation and Simulation of a Reactive Dividing Wall Column

Reactive dividing wall columns (RDWCs) are highly integrated systems that can simultaneously perform chemical reactions and multicomponent separations within the same vessel. While reactive distillation columns (RDCs) are well established and dividing wall columns are becoming increasingly popular in chemical processes due to their ability to present significant capital and operating costs savings, RDWCs have not been commercially adopted, in part due to the lack of experimental studies and validated models. Therefore, to increase public literature knowledge in this area, a complex aldol condensation reaction involving side reactions and two liquid phases is being studied at the lab scale. Discussion will focus on the lab-scale experimentation and validation of a RDC model for the system, use of results to properly deisgn a RDWC, and then initial results of the integrated RDWC process.