The Oxidation of Isobutyraldehyde to Isobutyric Acid Using a Microreactor Technology System

Abstract

This study focuses on optimizing the equipment and process design for the conversion of isobutyraldehyde to isobutyric acid using microreactor technology, aiming to enhance overall process efficiency and significantly improve the conversion rate of reactants and the selectivity of products. Microreactor technology allows for the miniaturization of traditional reaction systems; striving to provide more flexible; efficient; safe; and environmentally friendly processes. It offers high-performance solutions for industries such as laboratory research, chemicals, and biomedicine. The laboratory-scale microreactors were initially used for testing to optimize the experimental system and operating conditions. This was followed by pilot-scale production tests to confirm the stability of the production process. In pilot-scale experiment, the optimal isobutyraldehyde conversion rate of 91% and the isobutyric acid selectivity of 97% were achieved. Under the optimal experimental conditions, a single custom-built microreactor system can achieve an annual production of 7–8 tons of isobutyric acid. Ultimately, the goal is to scale up technology for industry production. Compared to existing processes, this study reduces the waste and energy consumption generated by the process, establishing a highly efficient and environmentally friendly green process.