KINETIC FEATURES OF THE REACTION BETWEEN ETHYLENE-OXIDE AND PHENOL

A mathematical model for the production of beta-phenoxy ethanol by the addition reaction between ethylene oxide and phenol catalyzed by sodi um hydroxide is proposed. The model fits the behavior of all component s in the reaction mixture adequately. The model is analyzed for isothe rmal conditions. The result of this analysis is a correlation that rel ates the three most important process parameters: temperature, catalys t concentration, and residual phenol concentration. The reaction in qu estion proceeding in a polytropic plug-flow reactor is simulated. The results of this simulation indicate that the correlation holds true fo r the maximum temperature of the flow in the reactor. An algorithm to calculate the parameters of a tubular reactor for the production of be ta-phenoxy ethanol is proposed. The algorithm makes it possible to cho ose operating conditions under which the residual phenol concentration in the product meets the process specifications.