Phenomenological model of a reactive distillation column validated at pilot-plant scale to produce n-butyl lactate

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive phenomenological model for a pilot-plant scale reactive distillation column used in the production of n-butyl lactate, a green solvent with industrial potential. The model integrates reaction kinetics and thermodynamic equilibrium to address key challenges such as non-linearities and multiple steady states commonly observed in reactive distillation processes. The model was validated using three scenarios: (1) Isoamyl acetate production at pilot-plant scale, (2) n-butyl lactate production based on lab-scale data from literature, and (3) an in silico pilot-plant scale simulation of n-butyl lactate production. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the model’s robustness in predicting system behavior under various operating conditions. This work contributes to the optimization of green solvent production, offering insights into process stability and scalability for industrial applications. Future work will focus on the development of advanced control strategies for real-time optimization.