Additive-mediated interfacial engineering of H2SO4-catalyzed isobutane alkylation from molecular design to industrial process intensification

Understanding and correlation of the multiscale interfacial mass transport behaviors mediated by the additive for liquid/liquid dispersion system is challenging. Here, we propose interfacial mass transfer flux through the quantitative coupling between microscopic interfacial parameters and mesoscopic droplet mass transfer model for H2SO4-catalyzed isobutane alkylation with emphasis on additive molecular design to industrial process intensification. Microscopic interfacial parameters are incorporated into CFD-PBM model to determine interfacial mass transfer flux of isobutane (Nisobutane). Based on the ratio of Nisobutane in the system with and without the additives, the interfacial enhancement factor E is proposed and validated as an indicator for optimal additive screening. Decoupled Nisobutane from apparent kinetic model, mass transfer-free kinetic parameters of isobutane alkylation are determined, quantitatively confirming the reaction is mass transfer controlled. Additive-mediated process intensification reveals PPG400 additive increases alkylate capacity by 24.85% up to 99.83 kt/a from 79.96 kt/a in additive-free system. Understanding the microscale interfacial properties in acid-catalyzed isobutane alkylation is challenging. Here the authors propose an interfacial mass transfer flux through coupling microscopic interfacial parameters and mesoscopic droplet mass transfer model of a liquid/liquid dispersion system.