Catalytic dehydration of ethanol in a fluidized bed reactor

The catalytic dehydration of ethanol over a zeolite 13X catalyst (Group A particles) has been studied in a fluidized bed reactor pilot plant. Reaction rates were measured in a complementary fixed bed reactor. The rate data were tested by several kinetic models. The variation of catalyst activity was accounted for in the kinetic model. Concentration profiles obtained from the fluidized bed reactor showed that a considerable degree of conversion occurred in the region near the distrbutor. A two-region model was developed to incorporate the effect of the distributor region and the channeling of bubbles further up the reactor. Plug flow is assumed in the distributor region and slug flow in the upper region. The conversion profiles given by the model show good agreement with the experimental data. Product selectivities are also well represented by the model.