Decylene Glycol (DG) is a widely used raw material in the field of chemical production, with excellent moisturizing, solubility and stability. In the process of manufacturing Decylene Glycol, the main methods used include esterification, reduction and biological methods. In this article, we will introduce these manufacturing methods as well as the operation points in detail.
1. Esterification
Esterification is one of the common methods for manufacturing decanediol, which mainly involves the conversion of caprylic acid and ethylene glycol into decanediol through esterification reaction. The following are the specific steps for the manufacture of decanediol by the esterification method:
(1) Add caprylic acid and ethylene glycol to the reactor at a molar ratio of 1:2, and add an appropriate amount of catalyst (e.g., sulfuric acid or p-toluenesulfonic acid) at the same time.
(2) Heat and stir in the reactor to fully react decanoic acid and ethylene glycol to produce a mixture of ethylene glycol decanoate and water.
(3) The mixture is distilled to separate the glycol decanoate and water, and the glycol decanoate is collected.
(4) Glycol decanoate is added to another reactor, hydrogen and catalyst are added and a reduction reaction is carried out to produce a mixture of decanediol and water.
(5) Distillation is again carried out to separate the decanediol and water and collect the decanediol product.
Operating point: In the esterification reaction, it is necessary to control the reaction temperature and the amount of catalyst to ensure the smooth progress of the reaction. In the reduction reaction, the pressure and flow rate of hydrogen need to be controlled to ensure that the reduction reaction is carried out completely. In addition, attention needs to be paid to controlling the pH value during the whole process to avoid corrosion of the equipment.
2. Reduction
Reduction is the method of making decanediol by reducing ethyl caprate to decanediol. The following are the specific steps for making decanediol by the reduction method:
(1) Add ethyl decanoate to the reactor with an appropriate amount of catalyst (e.g., copper-chromium oxide or nickel catalyst).
(2) Hydrogen is passed into the reactor and heated and stirred to reduce the ethyl decanoate to decanediol.
(3) At the end of the reaction, the reaction solution is cooled to room temperature, and the catalyst is filtered off to obtain the decanediol product.
Operating point: In the reduction reaction, the pressure and flow rate of hydrogen need to be controlled to avoid excessive reduction or incomplete reduction. In addition, it is necessary to select the appropriate catalyst and control the reaction temperature and time to improve the purity and yield of the product.
3. Biological method
Biological method is the production of decanediol by microbial fermentation. The following are the specific steps for the manufacture of decanediol by the biological method:
(1) Add glucose, yeast paste, phosphate and other nutrients to the fermenter and inoculate with decanediol producing bacteria.
(2) Fermentation is carried out under suitable conditions to enable the microorganisms to convert glucose into decanediol.
(3) Separate the bacteria and fermentation solution by centrifugation or filtration, etc., to obtain decanediol product.
Operating point: In the biological method, it is necessary to select suitable strains of bacteria and fermentation conditions to improve the yield and purity of decanediol. In addition, attention needs to be paid to controlling parameters such as pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen during the fermentation process to ensure smooth fermentation.
In conclusion, the manufacturing methods of decanediol include esterification method, reduction method and biological method. Different methods have different advantages and disadvantages as well as scope of application, and the selection of the appropriate method needs to be decided according to the specific product requirements and production conditions. In the operation process, it is necessary to pay attention to the control of various parameters to ensure the quality and yield of the product.
