Research On The Synthesis Process Of Isophorone

Isophorone is an important raw material of fine chemical industry. There is not a manufacturer providing it in our country and we need to import it for industrial use.There are two methods on the synthesis of isophorone: mesityl oxide method and acetone condensation method. Acetone condensation method is widely used nowadays. Three molecules of acetone condense to form one molecule of isophorone in the method of acetone condensation. According to the phase of the reactant, the acetone condensation method is divided into two methods: one is called acetone liquid phase condensation, in which acetone reacts in liquid phase and the other is called acetone gas phase condensation, in which acetone reacts in gas phase with solid catalyst.Two methods of acetone condensation were studied in this dissertation. Firstly, the reaction technological conditions were studied and optimized with potassium hydroxide and acetone solution according to orthogonal method. The course of the reaction was inspected with the help of Gas Chromatography and GC/MS and the mechanism of the reaction was speculated. Secondly, magnesium-aluminum mixed catalyst was prepared and the vapour of acetone flowed through a catalyst packed pyrolyzer. The effect of vapour rate and cracking temperature on the acetone conversion and isophorone selectivity was studied. The crude product was dealt with acid and base catalysts and qualified product was obtained.In the dissertation, intrinsic kinetic equation of the reaction was established according to the speculated liquid phase reaction mechanism. Kinetic parameters, k and Ea, were fitted according to the experimental data. The effect of reaction conditions was discussed and some experimental phenomena were explained based on the intrinsic kinetic equation of the reaction.