Intensification of solid-liquid reactions: microemulsions

Abstract

Intensification of rates of solid-liquid reactions, where the reaction occurs in the diffusion film or in the bulk, involving oximation of cyclododecanone, and alkaline hydrolysis of phenyl benzoate and 2,4-dichlorophenyl benzoate, was studied through the use of surfactant and co-surfactant which are conducive to the creation of microemulsion media. The enhancement in the specific rate of oximation was found to be as high as 600; in the case of alkaline hydrolysis, the enhancement factor was 45. A model has been proposed which visualizes the reaction occurring at the surface of the microemulsion aggregates or the 'micro-droplets'. Experimental results agree well with the predictions based on this model.