Comparison of intensified reactive distillation configurations for the synthesis of diphenyl carbonate

Reactive Distillation is one of the most representative examples of Process Intensification due this technology allows to simplify and to unify the reaction and separation processes in only one equipment, reducing in this way the total cost of the process. However, the RD technology can be improved through energy integration in order to reduce the energy consumption, increasing energy efficiency and economic benefits compared with conventional reactive distillation. In this paper, four intensified reactive distillation configurations for the Synthesis of Diphenyl Carbonate are compared. A conventional reactive distillation (CRD), a thermally coupled reactive distillation (TCRD) and two novel configurations with energy integration, which consist in a reactive distillation with vapor recompression (VRRD) and the second one in a hybrid process that involve thermally coupling in a reactive distillation with vapor recompression (VTCR). Economic and controllability aspects were evaluated for all of the configurations. The results show that the processes with energy integration provide significant energy savings compare with the CRD process. The result of the condition number shows that the control properties are better in the intensified process compare with the conventional process. In addition, the TCRD is the process that provides the best control properties and economic benefits. - Highlights: • Diphenyl Carbonate (DPC) can be synthesized using intensified reactive distillation. • Four intensified reactive distillation configurations for the synthesis of DPC were compared. • Significant energy savings were obtained using intensified reactive distillation. • Reactive distillation with thermally coupling provides the best control properties and economic benefits.