ABSTRACT
The equilibrium and dynamics of levulinic acid sorption on two weakly basic anion exchangers, in free base form, in single-component aqueous solutions were investigated. Adsorption isotherms such as Langmuir, Sips, Radke-Prausnitz, and Toth were applied to correlate the experimental data in the temperature range 285-315 K. Modeling results showed that the Toth model is the best one to correlate the sorption isotherms. The resulting Toth equations were used with the Clausius-Clapeyron equation to determine the isosteric heat of sorption. The sorption kinetics was experimentally measured via a completely stirred finite-bath batch experiment under different initial concentrations and at varying solution temperatures. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Elovich equation were used to represent the kinetic data and the equation parameter values were also evaluated. The pseudo-second-order equation cannot simulate the experimental kinetic data, while the Elovich equation fitted the sorption dynamic data very well under all the operating conditions studied. Finally, the apparent activation energy of sorption was also determined.
ABSTRACT
Non-alpha-tocopherols are hydroxymethylated and hydrogenated to produce alpha-tocopherol in one pot process by simultaneously reacting with paraformaldehyde and hydrogen in the presence of catalysts of benzenesulfonic acid and 5% Pd/C in an autoclave. Effects of various operation conditions have been studied. The preferable reaction conditions are: temperature 180 degrees C to 200 degrees C, pressure 5.0 MPa, acid concentration 0.5 g/100 ml ethanol, mass ratio of Pd/C to tocopherols 7.1 g/100 g, and reaction time 5.0 h. A product with alpha-tocopherol content of 80% was obtained by using a raw material with a total tocopherols content of 80.54%. The conversion of non-alpha-tocopherols is almost 100%, and the mole yield of alpha-tocopherol is more than 90%.
