Conceptual Screening of Reactive Extraction Processing Options

Abstract

Multi-phase superstructure optimization formulations for reactive extraction systems are often difficult to initialize and time consuming and solve. That is why such formulations, which capture detailed reaction and mass transfer phenomena, should only be employed for cases in which reactive extraction turns out to be a promising option. However, in systems with complex kinetics it is often non-obvious whether reactive extraction would enhance the performance of the system. The optimisation efforts can be minimised with the help of high-level models to screen the potential of the reactive extraction option prior to the detailed optimal process synthesis stage. This paper presents a conceptual optimisation formulation to establish the potential of reactive separations prior to complex detailed optimisation tasks. The conceptual approach supports high-level decision-making in early stages of design and allows to identify whether reactive extraction processes constitute promising design options for a given reaction system. The approach is illustrated with two biochemical examples of different complexity.