Using PERVAP 2201 Membrane in Vapor Permeation Facilitated Isopropyl Propionate Production through Esterification Reaction

A commercial flat polymeric membrane (PERVAP? 2201) was employed in vapor permeation process to selectively remove water from the reaction atmosphere during the synthesis of isopropyl propionate from iso-propanol and propionic acid. The reaction was carried out in a bench scale batch reactor at three different values of alcohol/acid molar ratio (1:1, 1.5:1 and 3:1) with 3 wt% para toluene sulfonic acid (with respect to acid) as catalyst.. The polymeric membrane was in contact with only the volatile components, namely water and isopropanol, for a long period of time with no detectable defect. The conversion of the reversible esterification reaction was enhanced by simultaneous employing of the chemical reaction and the vapor permeation process, where in a set of experiments almost complete conversion was achieved after only 140 minutes. Also, results revealed that initial molar ratio of the reactants had strong effects on the acid conversion and water permeation flux through the membrane.