(88a) Development of a Reactive Distillation where the Reactor is the Reboiler

One example of Process Intensification is reactive distillation.  In this case, the author discusses the development of a reactive distillation process wherein the reactor serves as the reboiler of a distillation column, and the heat of reaction provides heat to purify the reaction product, 1,2-dichloroethane, an intermediate in the production of vinyl chloride.  He was involved in the laboratory mini-plant research on this process and the design and operation of a pilot plant located at a production facility.  The presentation follows the process from its inception in the laboratory, through the pilot plant, and into using the pilot plant data to modify an existing production facility.  This work was briefly mentioned in a previous paper, “Process Intensification, a Historical Perspective, presented at the Minneapolis meeting in 2011, and will be discussed in more detail here.