A slow bromination process of butyl rubber (IIR) suffers from low efficiency and low selectivity (S) of
target-product. To obtain suitable approach to intensify the process, effects of assistant solvents and mixing intensity
on the bromination process were systemically studied in this paper. The reaction process was found constantly
accelerated with the increasing dosage and polarity of assistant solvent. Hexane with 30% (by volume) dichloromethane
was found as the suitable solvent component, where the stable conversion of 1,4-isoprene transferring to
target product (xA1s) of 80.2% and the corresponding S of 91.2% were obtained in 5 min. The accelerated reaction
process was demonstrated being remarkably affected by mixing intensity until the optimal stirring rate of 1100 r·min−1
in a stirred tank reactor. With better mixing condition, a further intensification of the process was achieved in a rotating
packed bed (RPB) reactor, where xA1s of 82.6% and S of 91.9% were obtained in 2 min. The usage of the
suitable solvent component and RPB has potential application in the industrial bromination process intensification.
Keywords bromination of butyl rubber, process intensification, assistant solvent, mixing intensity