(547h) Comparison of Batch Vs Continuous Operation for the Acquisition of Robust Reaction Kinetics in the Production of Succinimide Dispersants
AIChE Annual Meeting
2018
2018 AIChE Annual Meeting
Process Development Division
Poster Session: Process Development
Wednesday, October 31, 2018 - 3:30pm to 5:00pm
This work presents results from a university-industry collaboration between Lubrizol Corporation and the University of Pittsburgh, under the umbrella of the recently formed RAPID Modular Chemical Process Intensification Institute. It aims to demonstrate the transition from batch to continuous processing focused on lubricant chemistry. Specifically, we present results from a kinetic investigation into the production of succinimide dispersants via reaction of a poly-isobutylene succinimide anhydride (PIBSA) with polyamines. The molecules undergo a condensation reaction to produce a large surfactant molecule with a polar head group and a long, oil soluble polymer tail. A complete family of products (which form the largest volume oil additives) is made by varying molecular weight, structure and stoichiometric ratio of the various reactants.
Here, we present results from a detailed investigation of the reaction system in a small laboratory-scale batch reactor using online IR spectroscopy as the analytical tool. The use of a batch system has the advantage of easy experimentation and enables the acquisition of large amounts of data through measurement of long concentration time traces, thus facilitating the acquisition of robust kinetics. However, in order to cover a large parameter range (such as operating temperatures, reactant concentrations, etc) a large number of experiments is required. We therefore compare the acquisition of kinetic data from the batch system with a continuous reactor system and discuss advantages/drawbacks of each variant.