Chemical Engineering Science, Vol.53, No.13, 2459-2468, 1998
Microphase-assisted "autocatalysis" in a solid-liquid reaction with a precipitating product - II. Experimental
A comprehensive model was developed in part one of this study for microphase assisted 'autocatalysis', for systems involving a precipitating solid. In the present study, the predictions of this model are validated by using an industrially important system, e.g. the reaction of calcium citrate (solid) with sulfuric acid (aqueous) to produce citric acid (desired product) and calcium sulfate dihydrate (solid by-product). As a first step, it was found that enhancements as high as 2.81 could indeed be obtained as a result of 'autocatalysis' microphase action of product calcium sulfate. Elaborate experimental studies were carried out to independently determine the parameters of the model, based ore which the application of the model to the system was verified.