Intensification of heterogeneous reactions through hydrotropy: Alkaline hydrolysis of esters and oximation of cyclododecanone
Abstract
Hydrotropic substances are capable of increasing the solubility of sparingly soluble organic compounds in aqueous solutions and can thus enhance the rates of two-phase reactions substantially. The increase in the solubility of sparingly soluble organic substances due to hydrotropes has been found to be an exponential function of the hydrotrope concentration over a wide range. A study of the rates of solid—liquid and liquid—liquid alkaline hydrolysis of esters and solid—liquid oximation of cyclododecanone, in the presence of different hydrotropes, was carried out. The potassium salts of different hydrotropes, such as, butyl monoglycol sulfate, p-cumyl phenol, cumene sulphonic acid were found to be more effective than the corresponding sodium salts. In some cases intensification factors as high as 1000 were observed.