Continuous Reactions Between Gases and Liquids (Patent No: 862008)

Inventor: Boerma, Hiepke

Location: Netherlands

Comments: N/A

Description: The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A continuous process of chemically reacting a gas with a reactant, in which a liquid reaction mixture comprising the reactant is passed through a plurality of reaction zones in series within which it is in surface contact with the gas, and the degree of surface contact of the gas with the reaction mixture in at least the last reaction zone is controlled by differences between the extent of reaction required and achieved, respectively, where essentially only those differences between the extent of reaction required in the reaction mixture leaving the last reaction zone and the extent of reaction achieved in the reaction mixture at a position subsequent to the penultimate reaction zone are used for such control, and the differences thus used are employed to reduce the differences between the extent of the reaction required and achieved, respectively, in the reaction mixture leaving the last reaction zone.

2. A process according to Claim 1, in which the gas flows counter currently to the reaction mixture through the series of reaction zones.

3. A process according to Claim 2, in which the gas is introduced into the last reaction zone only.

4. A process according to Claim 2, in which the used position of the reaction mixture subsequent to the penultimate reaction zone is one subsequent to the last reaction zone.

5. A process according to any one of Claims 1, 3 and 4, in which the degree of surface contact of gas and reaction mixture is controlled by variation of the intensity of movement of the reaction mixture within at least the last reaction zone.

6. A process according to any one of Claims 1, 3 and 4, in which the degree of surface contact of gas and reaction mixture is controlled by variation of the intensitT of movement of the reaction mixture within at least the last reaction zone provided by variable speed mechanical stirring.

7. A process according to any one of Claims 1, 3 and 4, in which the degree of surface contact of gas and reaction mixture is controlled by variation of the intensity of movement of the reaction mixture within at least the last reaction zone provided by variable speed mechanical stirring, and the gas is introduced into at least the last reaction zone above the level of the reaction mixture.

8. A process according to any one of Claims 1, 3 and 4, in which at least three reaction zones in series are used.

9. A process according to any one of Claims 1, 3 and 4, in which at least five reaction zones in series are used.

10. A process according to any one of Claims1, 3 and 4, in which the extent of reaction achieved in the reaction mixture is determined by measuring a property of the reaction mixture.

11. A process according to any one of Claim 1, 3 and 4, in which the extent of reaction achieved in the reaction mixture is determined by measuring its refractive index.

12. A process according to any one of Claims 1, 3 and 4, in which the extent of reaction achieved in the reaction mixture is determined by measuring the rate of total gas uptake in the series of reaction zones.

13. A process according to any one of Claims 1, 3 and 4, in which the whole of the difference is used to control the degree of surface contact of gas and reaction mixture in the last reactor.

14. A process according to any one of Claims 1, 3 and 4, in which the gas is hydrogen.

15. A process according to any one of Claims 1, 3 and 4, in which the gas is hydrogen and the reactant is a fatty acid glyceride.

16. A process according to any one of Claims 1, 3 and 4, in which the gas is hydrogen and. the reactant is an unsaturated hydrocarbon.

17. A process according to any One of Claims 1, 3 and 4, in which the gas is hydrogen, the reactant is a fatty acid glyceride, and the chemical reaction is a selective hardening.

18. An apparatus for carrying out a continuous process of chemically reacting a gas with a reactant in a liquid reaction mixture, comprising a plurality of reactors in series, means for controlling the degree of surface contact of gas and reaction mixture in at least the last reactor, means for measuring the extent of reaction achieved in the reaction mixture at a position subsequent to the penultimate reactor, and means for comparing the measured extent of reaction achieved in the reaction mixture with the extent of reaction required and for converting the difference into a signal acting as a control of the means for controlling the degree of surface contact of gas and reaction mixture, the provision that the only such comparing and converting means is one for comparing the measured extent of reaction achieved in the reaction mixture at the position subsequent to the penultimate reactor with the extent of reaction required in the reaction mixture leaving the last reactor, and is arranged for control of the degree of surface contact of gas and reaction mixture in at least the last reactor.

19. Apparatus according to Claim 18, in which the used position subsequent to the penultimate reactor is one subsequent to the last reactor.

20. Apparatus according to Claim 18, in which the means for controlling the degree of surface contact of gas and reaction mixture within at least the last reactor is means for variation of the intensity of movement of the reaction mixture.

21. Apparatus according to Claim 18, in which the means for controlling the degree of surface contact of gas and reaction mixture within at least the last reactor is a mechanical stirrer of variable speed.

22. Apparatus according to any one of C1aiae 18, 19 and 2l, comprising at least three reactors in series.

23. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 18, 19 and 2l, comprising at least five reactors in series.

24. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 18, 19 and 2l, in which the measuring means is a means of measuring a property of the reaction mixture.

25. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 18, 19 and 21, in which the measuring means is a refractometer.

26. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 18, 19 and 21, in which the measuring means is a means for measuring the rate of total gas uptake in the series of reactors.

27. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 18, 19 and 21, in which the comparing and converting means is arranged for controlling the degree of surface contact of gas and reaction mixture in the last reactor only.

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