Reactive Distillation Processes

Reactive distillation, i.e., the simultaneous implementation of reaction and distillation in a countercurrent column, is a promising alternative to common sequential processes. In a previous study, the effective phase equilibrium of a reactive distillation was studied, focusing on the determination of so-called reactive azeotropes. In this paper, the knowledge of these thermodynamic fundamentals is applied to the conceptual design of reactive distillation processes. In addition, some process examples of technical importance are presented.