A continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) is a reaction vessel in which reagents, reactants, and solvents flow into the reactor while the products of the reaction concurrently exit the vessel. In this manner, the tank reactor is considered to be a valuable tool for continuous chemical processing.
CSTR reactors are known for their efficient mixing and stable, uniform performance under steady-state conditions. Typically, the output composition is the same as the material inside the reactor, which depends on the residence time and reaction rate.
In situations where a reaction is too slow, when two immiscible or viscous liquids require a high agitation rate, or when plug flow behavior is desired, multiple reactors can be linked together to create a CSTR cascade.
A CSTR assumes an ideal backmixing scenario, which is the exact opposite of a plug flow reactor (PFR).
In general, reactors can be classified as either continuous (Fig. 1) or batch reactors (Fig. 2). CSTRs are typically smaller in size and enable the seamless addition of reactants and reagents while the product can flow out continuously without interruption.
In contrast, a batch reactor is a chemical reactor that involves the addition of a fixed amount of reactants to the reactor vessel, followed by the reaction process until the desired product is obtained. Unlike a continuous reactor, reactants are not added continuously, and products are not removed continuously. Furthermore, batch reactors are not as uniformly mixed, and the temperature and pressure conditions may vary during the reaction.
CSTRs have the unique ability to handle higher reactant concentrations, as well as more energetic reactions due to their superior heat transfer properties in comparison to batch reactors. In this manner, a CSTR is considered a tool supporting flow chemistry.
Continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTRs) consist of:
CSTRs are most commonly used in industrial processing, primarily in homogeneous liquid-phase flow reactions where constant agitation is required. However, they are also used in the pharmaceutical industry and for biological processes, such as cell cultures and fermenters.
CSTRs may be used in a cascade application (Fig. 3) or standalone (Fig. 1).
CSTRs (Fig. 1) and PFRs (Fig. 4) are both used in continuous flow chemistry. CSTRs and PFRs can either function as standalone reaction systems or be combined to form part of a continuous flow process. Mixing is a crucial aspect of CSTRs, whereas PFRs are designed as tubular reactors where individual moving plugs contain reactants and reagents, acting as mini-batch reactors. Each plug in a PFR has a slightly different composition, and they internally mix, but not with the nearby plug ahead of or behind it. In an ideally mixed CSTR, product composition is uniform throughout the entire volume, whereas in a PFR, product composition varies depending on its position within the tubular reactor. Each type of reactor has its own set of advantages and disadvantages when compared to the others.
While a CSTR can produce substantial quantities of product per unit of time and can operate for extended periods, it may not be the best choice for reactions with slow kinetics. In such cases, batch reactors are typically the preferred option for synthesis.
Plug flow reactors are generally more space-efficient and have higher conversion rates compared to other types of reactors. However, they are not suitable for highly exothermic reactions because it can be challenging to control sudden temperature surges. Furthermore, PFRs typically entail higher operating and maintenance costs than CSTRs.
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Residence time distribution (RTD) describes the duration that a fluid component stays in a system or a reactor. CSTR residence time relates to the time that reactants spend in the reactor before they leave it.
Understanding the residence time distribution of a CSTR is critical in designing and optimizing reactors for chemical reactions. It helps in evaluating the reactor's efficiency and the duration required to achieve a complete reaction. Deviation from ideality can result from the channeling of fluid through the vessel, recycling of fluid within the vessel, or the presence of poorly mixed or stationary regions in the vessel. As a result, a probability distribution function, RTD, is used to describe the amount of time that any finite portion of the fluid resides in the reactor. This helps to characterize the mixing and flow characteristics in the reactor and to compare the behavior of the reactor to ideal models. For example, a cascade of CSTRs exhibits tighter residence time and reaction resolution as the number of reactors increases in the cascade setup.
The residence time distribution of a fluid in a vessel can be experimentally determined by the addition of a non-reactive tracer substance into the system inlet. The concentration of this tracer is varied by a known function and overall flow conditions in the vessel are determined by tracking the concentration of the tracer in the effluent of the vessel.
Green and sustainable chemistry is a growing trend in the pharmaceutical and fine chemical industries. This approach to chemistry aims to minimize the environmental impact of chemical processes by reducing waste and energy consumption, using renewable resources, and designing processes that are safe and efficient.
By using modeling software, scientists and engineers can predict how chemical reactions will behave under different conditions, optimize reaction conditions to reduce waste and energy consumption, and design processes that are safer and more efficient. For example, evaluations of batch versus flow chemistry can be made quickly, or determining CSTRs sized for best performance. Continuous processes may be more sustainable than batch, for reasons such as lower volume, less solvent usage, and reduced cleaning cycles.
Chemical reaction modeling and simulation are particularly well-suited to support green chemistry initiatives. Scale-up Suite's advanced modeling capabilities enable users to accurately simulate complex chemical reactions, including multi-step reactions and optimize process parameters such as temperature, pressure, and reactant concentrations to minimize waste and maximize yield.
Scale-up Suite™ also has features that allow users to assess the environmental impact of their processes, such as calculating the carbon footprint or energy consumption of a given reaction. This information can help users make informed decisions about process design and identify opportunities to make their processes more sustainable.
Automated lab-scale chemical reactors can help convert from batch to CSTR operation.
Process analytical technology is invaluable in keeping steady state monitored and well controlled.
View our full list of green and sustainable chemistry resources including case studies and industry examples. This white paper demonstrates how the information provided by advanced technology from METTLER TOLEDO aids in supporting green and sustainable chemistry in the research, development, and production of pharmaceutical, chemical, and polymer molecules and products
ReactIR monitors the Diazoketone concentration and is used for RTD determination
The authors report the development of a diazomethane generator consisting of a CSTR cascade with internal membrane separation technology. They used this technology in a three-step, telescoped synthesis of a chiral α-chloroketone – an important intermediate compound in the synthesis of HIV protease inhibitors. A coil reactor was used to generate a mixed anhydride that was passed into the CSTR diazomethane cascade. The Teflon membrane allowed diffusion of the diazomethane into the CSTR where it reacted with the anhydride to form the corresponding diazoketone. The diazoketone was then converted to the α-chloroketone by reaction with HCl in a batch reactor.
ReactIR measurements were used to follow the formation of the intermediate diazoketone compound (tracking 2107 cm-1 peak) and also to experimentally determine the residence time distribution for the system by tracking the tracer substance. The tracer experiment monitored by ReactIR determined that five reactor volumes of the second CSTR in the cascade were required to reach steady state, corresponding to a 6-hour start-up time.
Wernik, M., Poechlauer, P., Schmoelzer, C., Dallinger, D., & Kappe, C. O. (2019). Design and Optimization of a Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor Cascade for Membrane-Based Diazomethane Production: Synthesis of α-Chloroketones. Organic Process Research & Development, 23(7), 1359–1368. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.oprd.9b00115
OptiMax used as MSMPR reaction vessels in continuous crystallization
The authors report the development of a system to enable a fully automated intermittent flow liquid−liquid Suzuki coupling, as well as handle batch metal treatment and continuous crystallization. With respect to the continuous crystallization, OptiMax reactors were used in series as Multistage Mixed Suspension and Mixed Product Removal (MSMPR) vessels driving the ambient temperature antisolvent crystallization.
These MSMPR vessels act as CSTRs that produce and transfer a slurry containing crystals of the product. The authors report that the nominal residence time in the crystallizers was calculated by the fill volume of the crystallizers divided by the total flow rate of incoming feeds. PAT, including ParticleTrack with FBRM and attenuated total reflectance (ATR), was used in measuring the continuous crystallization.
Cole, K. P., Campbell, B. M., Forst, M. B., McClary Groh, J., Hess, M., Johnson, M. D., Miller, R. D., Mitchell, D., Polster, C. S., Reizman, B. J., & Rosemeyer, M. (2016). An Automated Intermittent Flow Approach to Continuous Suzuki Coupling. Organic Process Research & Development, 20(4), 820–830. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.oprd.6b00030
ReactIR and ParticleTrack provide PAT information and feedback
The authors report the development of a combined PFR-CSTR cascade flow reactor system that incorporated inline FTIR and FBRM sensors as process analytical technology. This system was used to investigate several continuous reactive crystallizations, determining crystal morphology, crystal size distribution, reaction and crystallization yields and supersaturation levels. Residence time distribution (RTD) for the PFR, CSTR cascade and PFR-CSTR cascade were measured and showed that the combined PFR-CSTR cascade had a slightly longer RTD than that of the CSTR cascade alone. For the reactive crystallization, a higher yield was obtained for the PFR-CSTR cascade system as a result of the PFR’s narrower RTD, minimizing both unreacted material and impurity formation.
ReactIR and ParticleTrack probes measured the reactant concentration and crystal chord length during the reactive crystallization process. The reactant concentrations in the mother liquor measured by ReactIR were in good agreement with HPLC results (prediction error < 0.17 %). ParticleTrack measurements revealed a relatively stable chord length of ~ 150 µm.
Hu, C., Shores, B. T., Derech, R. A., Testa, C. J., Hermant, P., Wu, W., Shvedova, K., Ramnath, A., Al Ismaili, L. Q., Su, Q., Sayin, R., Born, S. C., Takizawa, B., O’Connor, T. F., Yang, X., Ramanujam, S., & Mascia, S. (2020). Continuous reactive crystallization of an API in PFR-CSTR cascade with in-line PATs. Reaction Chemistry & Engineering, 5(10), 1950–1962. https://doi.org/10.1039/d0re00216j
A continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) is a container used for chemical reactions. It allows the substances needed for the reaction to flow in, while the products flow out at the same time. This makes it a great tool for making chemicals continuously. The CSTR reactor mixes the substances well and works consistently under steady conditions. Typically, the mixture that comes out is the same as what's inside, which depends on how long the substances are in the container and how fast the reaction occurs.
In certain cases, when a reaction is too slow or two different liquids are present requiring a high agitation rate, several CSTRs can be connected together to create a cascade. A CSTR assumes ideal backmixing, which is the opposite of a plug flow reactor (PFR).
No, a CSTR (Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor) is not a batch reactor. The main difference between a CSTR and a batch reactor is that a CSTR is a continuous flow reactor where reactants are continuously fed into the reactor and products are continuously removed, while in a batch reactor, a fixed amount of reactants are added to the reactor and allowed to react until the reaction is complete before the products are removed.
In a CSTR, the reactants are continuously mixed using an agitator or stirrer, which ensures that the reaction mixture is homogenous and well-mixed.
CSTRs are often used in large-scale industrial processes where a continuous supply of reactants is required to meet production demands. Batch reactors, on the other hand, are more commonly used in laboratory-scale experiments, where smaller quantities of reactants are required for testing and analysis and in the production of smaller volume pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and speciality chemicals.
PFR (Plug Flow Reactor) and CSTR (Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor) are two common types of chemical reactors used in industrial and laboratory settings. The main differences between these two reactors are the way they operate and their applications.
Overall, the choice between a PFR and CSTR depends on the specific reaction being carried out and the desired production outcome. High quality laboratory data are invaluable for reaction characterization and process modeling can be used to aid reactor selection. Learn more about CSTR vs PFR.
Whether continuous flow (CSTR) or PFR (plug flow) is better for a particular application depends on the specific reaction being carried out and the desired outcome. However, in general, CSTRs are often preferred over PFRs for several reasons:
Overall, the choice between a CSTR and a PFR depends on the specific needs of the reaction being carried out, and both reactors have their advantages and disadvantages. However, CSTRs are often favored for their flexibility, good mixing, and ability to achieve high conversion rates in a short residence time.