AIChE Journal, Vol.48, No.11, 2635-2645, 2002
Phase equilibrium engineering of supercritical hydrogenation reactors
The general problem of phase equilibrium engineering of supercritical hydrogenation reactors is addressed. The conceptual design of process conditions is discussed, as well as procedures to determine the range of feasible operating conditions for two reaction problems: the hydrogenation of vegetable oils and the hydrogenolysis of fatty acid methyl esters. A group contribution equation of state is applied to predict the required phase equilibrium scenarios for solvent containing reactive mixtures.