OXYGEN MASS-TRANSFER IN THE SYSTEM - N-PARAFFINS TO SECONDARY ALCOHOLS

Oxygen mass transfer in the oxidation of n-C-10-C-14 paraffins to seco ndary alcohols has been studied. Existence of mixed zone viz chemicall y rate limited zone (CRLZ) (70-80%) and mass transfer rate limited zon e (MTRLZ) (20-30%) in the oxidation reactor is essential. Increasing t he oxygen content in the feed air led to reduction in the energy of ac tivation of the oxidation reaction but increased the upper critical te mperature above which the mixed zone would not exist. The lower critic al temperature limit remained uneffected by changes in the oxygen cont ent in air but increased on increasing the air feed rate upto 1 500 cc min-1 corresponding to the air velocity of 1.3 cm sec-1. Below 145-de grees-C, the entire reactor functioned in the chemically rate limited zone. The results suggest that oxygen content in the air should prefer ably be limited to 6% to avoid consecutive reaction of the alcohol pro ducts.