A dynamic nonisothermal model for triphase catalysis in organic synthesis

Phase-transfer catalysis has been in use for over 3 decades, but triphase c atalysis, where the phase-transfer catalyst is immobilized on a solid suppo rt, is of much more recent origin. Despite its significant advantages over soluble phase-transfer catalysts, triphase catalysis hs not attracted indus trial attention. One of the main reasons for this lack of industrial intere st is the insufficient understanding of complex diffusion-reaction processe s involved. Significant insights into this problem can be gained by mathema tical modeling of these reaction systems. Unfortunately, while a few studie s have been reported on the mathematical modeling of triphase catalysis, no ne of them address the important problem of nonisothermal effects. In the p resent paper we develop a dynamic model for triphase catalytic systems that includes intraparticle heat-transfer effects. An important conclusion is t hat the catalyst exhibits maximum effectiveness (with an effectiveness fact or greater than 1) at a particular reaction time and that it can be tailore d to physically realize this enhanced conversion.