Synergizing Process Conditions, Water Sensitivity, and Kinetic Mechanisms to Optimize Sodium Salicylate Yield in Sodium Phenol Carboxylation

Sodium salicylate can be formed by carboxylation of solid sodium phenol particles with carbon dioxide gas under certain conditions. Single-factor experiments were carried out with self-made dried sodium phenol particles in a batch high-pressure reactor. It was determined that the carboxylation reaction of sodium phenol particles was more suitable under the conditions of a reaction temperature of 160 degrees C, a reaction pressure of 0.55 MPa, a reaction time of about 40 min, and a stirring speed of 50 rpm. Besides that, the water content of the material also had important effects on the yield. Through the establishment of the kinetic model of the carboxylation reaction between solid sodium phenol particles and carbon dioxide gas, the control step of the reaction temperature at 150 and 160 degrees C was determined as ash layer diffusion, and the kinetic equation was further calculated. The research results can provide the basic technological conditions and kinetic data of the carboxylation reaction of sodium phenol particles and provide a reference for the development of a continuous and efficient production process of sodium phenol carboxylation.