Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 23, 2026
Efficient Synthesis of Polyfunctionalized Benzenes in Water via Persulfate-promoted Benzannulation of α,β-Unsaturated Compounds and Alkynes
Published on: December 16, 2019
Additive-mediated interfacial engineering of H2SO4-catalyzed isobutane alkylation from molecular design to industrial
Zhihong Ma1, Yijie Ding1, Weizhen Sun2
1State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and Low-carbon Technology, School of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.
Abstract:
Understanding and correlation of the multiscale interfacial mass transport behaviors mediated by the additive for liquid/liquid dispersion system is challenging. Here, we propose interfacial mass transfer flux through the quantitative coupling between microscopic interfacial parameters and mesoscopic droplet mass transfer model for H2SO4-catalyzed isobutane alkylation with emphasis on additive molecular design to industrial process intensification. Microscopic interfacial parameters are incorporated into CFD-PBM model to determine interfacial mass transfer flux of isobutane (Nisobutane). Based on the ratio of Nisobutane in the system with and without the additives, the interfacial enhancement factor E is proposed and validated as an indicator for optimal additive screening. Decoupled Nisobutane from apparent kinetic model, mass transfer-free kinetic parameters of isobutane alkylation are determined, quantitatively confirming the reaction is mass transfer controlled. Additive-mediated process intensification reveals PPG400 additive increases alkylate capacity by 24.85% up to 99.83 kt/a from 79.96 kt/a in additive-free system.
Related Concept Videos
02:15Preparation of Alcohols via Addition Reactions
The acid-catalyzed addition of water to the double bond of alkenes is a large-scale industrial method used to synthesize low-molecular-weight alcohols. An acidic atmosphere is required to allow the hydrogen in the water molecule to act as an electrophile and attack the double bond in an alkene. The addition of a proton to the double bond creates a carbocation intermediate. The proton preferentially bonds to the less substituted end of the double bond to create a more stable carbocation...
02:13Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Metals like palladium, platinum, and nickel are commonly used in their solid forms — fine powder on an inert surface. As these catalysts remain insoluble in the reaction mixture, they are referred to as heterogeneous catalysts.
The hydrogenation process takes place on the...
02:24Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Like alkenes, alkynes can be reduced to alkanes in the presence of transition metal catalysts such as Pt, Pd, or Ni. The reaction involves two sequential syn additions of hydrogen via a cis-alkene intermediate.
02:34Regioselectivity and Stereochemistry of Acid-Catalyzed Hydration
03:08Hydroboration-Oxidation of Alkenes
01:17Electrophilic 1,2- and 1,4-Addition of HX to 1,3-Butadiene