OXYGEN MASS-TRANSFER IN THE SYSTEM - N-PARAFFINS TO SECONDARY ALCOHOLS

Oxygen mass transfer in the oxidation of n-C-10-C-14 paraffins to secondary alcohols has been studied. Existence of mixed zone viz chemically rate limited zone (CRLZ) (70-80%) and mass transfer rate limited zone (MTRLZ) (20-30%) in the oxidation reactor is essential. Increasing the oxygen content in the feed air led to reduction in the energy of activation of the oxidation reaction but increased the upper critical temperature above which the mixed zone would not exist. The lower critical temperature limit remained uneffected by changes in the oxygen content in air but increased on increasing the air feed rate upto 1 500 cc min-1 corresponding to the air velocity of 1.3 cm sec-1. Below 145-degrees-C, the entire reactor functioned in the chemically rate limited zone. The results suggest that oxygen content in the air should preferably be limited to 6% to avoid consecutive reaction of the alcohol products.