Device and process for producing undecylenic acid methyl ester using methyl ricinoleate as raw material

Abstract

A device and a process for producing undecylenic acid methyl ester using methyl ricinoleate as raw material are provided. The device comprises a feed pump, a raw material pre-heater, a microwave catalytic reactor, a microwave generator, a temperature controller and an infrared sensor, a condenser, a product tank and a discharge pump. The feed pump is connected with the raw material pre-heater, which is connected with the inlet of the microwave catalytic reactor. The outlet of the microwave catalytic reactor is connected with the condenser, which is connected to the product tank and the discharge pump. The microwave catalytic reactor is located in the microwave generator, which is connected with the temperature controller and the infrared sensor. The process is as follows: high-purity methyl ricinoleate, used as the raw material, is converted to methyl undecene and heptaldehyde by microwave-assisted pyrolysis process, followed by isolation and purification to produce methyl undecene.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Device for producing undecylenic acid methyl ester using methyl ricinoleate as raw material, comprising: a feed pump, a raw material pre-heater, a microwave catalysis reactor, a microwave generator, a temperature controller and an infrared sensor, a condenser, a product tank and a discharge pump;
 wherein the feed pump is connected with the material pre-heater, which is connected to an inlet of the microwave catalytic reactor;   wherein an outlet of the microwave catalytic reactor is connected with the condenser, which is connected to an upper port of the product tank;   wherein a lower port of the product tank is connected to the discharge pump;   wherein the microwave catalytic reactor is arranged in the microwave generator, which is connected with the temperature controller and the infrared sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the inlet and the outlet of the microwave catalytic reactor are arranged in the upper or side portion of the microwave catalytic reactor. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the microwave catalytic reactor is made of glass, ceramics or other wave-transparent material that can withstand high temperature. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein a layer of microwave absorbing material is arranged inside the microwave catalytic reactor. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 4 , and the microwave absorbing material comprises any one of silicon carbide, activated carbon, Fe/Co/Ni loaded alumina and zeolites. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the microwave catalytic reactor is arranged inside the microwave generator. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein the microwave generator is connected with a feed inlet, a product outlet and a temperature measurement port arranged on the top or the side of the microwave generator. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the microwave generator is connected with the temperature controller, the infrared sensor, and a paperless recorder. 
     
     
         9 . A process for producing undecylenic acid methyl ester using methyl ricinoleate as raw material and employing the device of  claim 1 , the processing comprising the steps as follows:
 1) setting a cracking reaction temperature of the microwave generator, and turning on the microwave generator to start a heating process;   2) inputting into the device a methyl ricinoleate of high purity using the feed pump, regulating a flow rate of the methyl ricinoleate using a flow meter and heating the methyl ricinoleate using the raw material pre-heater;   3) at the set temperature and in the microwave catalytic reactor, cracking the methyl ricinoleate of high quality into methyl undecene and heptaldehyde gases, and conveying the methyl undecene and heptaldehyde gases into the condenser via the outlet pipe; and   4) forming a liquid product by condensing the methyl undecene and heptaldehyde gases using the condenser, conveying the liquid product into the product tank and pumping the liquid product into a distillation unit using the feed pump, and purifying the liquid product to obtain the undecylenic acid methyl ester.   
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of subjecting raw methyl ricinoleate to transesterification and distillation to provide the methyl ricinoleate of high purity. 
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 9 , wherein the temperature of the cracking reaction is between 400 and 600 degree centigrade. 
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 9 , wherein the pyrolysis system is under atmospheric pressure or negative pressure. 
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 12 , further comprising a step of venting the product tank or connecting it to a vacuum so as to provide the atmospheric pressure or negative pressure for the pyrolysis system.