PHASE-PLANE MODELING OF A LIQUID-LIQUID PHASE-TRANSFER-CATALYZED REACTION

This paper presents a new phase-plane model for the dynamics of a liqu id-liquid phase transfer catalyzed batch reaction system. The mathemat ical problem based on the two-film theory was analyzed. Simulation res ults reveal that by the proposed model one can successfully make a cor rect judgment as to whether the quaternary onium salts in the two phas es are in extractive equilibrium. Also, the respective contributions o f the reaction and the mass transfer to the overall rate can explicitl y be understood. A phase transfer catalyzed reaction might be describe d by a pseudo-first-order process. However, the consumption rate of th e nucleophilic catalyst (QY) in the organic phase is not kept constant . Moreover, the reaction rate of the slow reaction is affected by the mass-transfer resistance between the two phases.