Economic and Environmental Assessment of Intensified Reactive Distillation for Isopropyl Myristate Production with n-Propanol as a Reactant

This framework guides the modeling, simulation, and optimization of an intensified reactive‑distillation process that makes isopropyl myristate by esterifying myristic acid with n‑propanol. The method compares two setups: – a traditional two‑column distillation system, and – an intensified system that adds an external solvent and a decanter. Both are run at 1 bar and 3 bar. The model includes a closed‑loop recycle to keep solvent use low. Simulation results show that the closed‑loop recycle cuts the solvent flow rate by about **134 times** compared with the open‑loop designs reported in the literature. This also lowers energy use by **64.22 %** while still meeting strict product‑purity limits. To find the most

cost‑effective and environmentally friendly operating conditions, the framework uses the **simulated annealing** algorithm to minimize the **Total Annual Cost (TAC)**. The project serves as a step‑by‑step guide for chemical‑engineering students who want to study process intensification, thermodynamic modeling, and algorithmic optimization in green esterification processes.

Message: Hi FE, I need help with “Economic and Environmental Assessment of Intensified Reactive Distillation for Isopropyl Myristate Production with n-Propanol as a Reactant” in “Chemical Engineering”