Furfural production by reactive stripping: process optimization by a combined modelling and experimental approach

In this paper, we describe the continuous production of furfural coupled with in situ stripping using hydrogen gas. With respect to the conventional semibatch process, which requires excessive steam as stripping agent and results in highly diluted furfural, this new process configuration reduces the net energy input, increases the efficiency of the downstream hydrogenation of furfural, and proposes a shift toward a continuous operation. Based on well-established thermodynamic data and previously reported kinetics, we have developed a first-principle reactor model that successfully describes the experimental observations without the use of any fitting parameters. This robust predictive model is used to further optimize the continuous production of furfural via this route.