m-PS offers hybrid separation process
concepts for your production plant by applying process intensification
strategies. Smart combination of different technologies and/or unit operations
enables efficient processes with regards to energy consumption, equipment costs
and foot print.
For example the combination of reaction
and simultaneous separation of one or more reaction products significantly
increases the reaction conversion of equilibrium limited condensation
reactions. Often reaction is combined with distillation in one unit operation,
so called reactive distillation: The distillation column has a reaction zone in
which the reaction takes place. The products are simultaneously removed from
this zone increasing the reaction conversion. An alternative to this concept is
distillation with side reactors: Liquid side draws are pumped through fixed bed
reactors which are placed aside the distillation column. The reactor outlet
flows back to the distillation column.
Another possible separation method is
pervaporation which allows the removal of water from the reaction mixture with
hydrophilic membranes: The feed is pumped through a combination of fixed bed
reactor and a pervaporation membrane module in batch or feed-and bleed
operation mode.
Many times the optimum is a combination
of two or more technologies to complete a specific reaction and separation
task.
With experience in reaction and thermal
separation technologies we can carry out process intensification studies to
debottleneck your existing production process or to propose an optimized new
process concept. Often laboratory test work is needed to properly validate the
design and to allow a safe scale-up of hybrid systems. m-PS can support you in
carrying out the required steps for commercial implementation.
