Modeling of the Aqueous-Phase Hydrogenation of Maleic Anhydride to Succinic Acid under Different Mass Transfer Conditions

Succinic acid (SA), recognized as a significant green platform chemical, holds a crucial role in advancing applications of biodegradable plastics. The most promising conversion pathway to SA is the aqueous-phase hydrogenation of maleic anhydride, in which the hydrogenation of maleic acid (MA) to SA is the primary step. However, the influence of the gas–liquid mass transfer of hydrogen and the liquid–solid mass transfer of reactants and hydrogen on MA hydrogenation is not well understood. This work provides a comprehensive analysis of mass transfer in the MA hydrogenation reaction to SA. Experimental evaluations were performed to assess the influence of various stirring speeds, hydrogen partial pressures, and temperatures on the hydrogenation of MA. A pseudo-first-order kinetic model including mass transfer effects and the isomerization of MA to fumaric acid (FA) was developed. The model’s predictive accuracy under varying mass transfer and different temperatures was validated experimentally, confirming its suitability for industrial reactor design and process optimization.