Bipolar membrane electrodialysis in an organic medium: Production of methyl methoxyacetate

To produce methyl methoxyacetate in a safe and environmentally friendly manner, bipolar membrane electrodialysis is proposed to convert methyl chloroacetate into methyl methoxyacetate in an organic medium-methanol. The results indicate that as current density increases, the product yield increases, but the current efficiency decreases. Besides, as methyl chloroacetate concentration increases, both the product yield and current efficiency increase; i.e., the product concentration increases from 1.08 to 6.59 mmol dm(-3), and the current efficiency increases from 2.6% to 15.7%. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.