Heat transfer and the continuous production of hydroxypropyl starch in a static mixer reactor

A novel continuous reactor for the chemical derivation of aqueous starch solutions based on static mixers is proposed. Both the experimentally observed axial and radial temperature gradients in the static mixer could be accurately described by a pseudohomogeneous two-dimensional heat transfer (PTHT) model. Hydroxypropyl starch was produced by reacting propylene oxide with an aqueous solution of potato starch. The hydroxide acted as a catalyst. The observed conversions of propylene oxide are in excellent agreement with model prediction based on both a one-dimensional and a two-dimensional plug flow reactor model.