Abstract:
A multistep hydrocarbon conversion process for the production of ethers including methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) from light paraffins and alcohols is disclosed. A mixture of C.sub.4 isoparaffins, normal paraffins, an etherification recycle and butane isomerization effluent enter a deisobutanizer column. Normal paraffins withdrawn from the fractionator are isomerized and returned to the fractionator, and isoparaffins are withdrawn from the fractionator and dehyrogenated. The resulting olefins enter an etherification zone for reaction of isobutene with a C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alcohol. Unreacted paraffins and olefins comprise the etherification effluent entering the deisobutanizer. Normal butanes and olefins are withdrawn as a sidecut from the deisobutanizer. Hydrogenation of the sidecut saturates any olefins contained therein which would interfere with the isomerization of normal butanes. The saturated sidecut passes to an isomerization zone and a mixture of isobutane and normal butane is recycled to the deisobutanizer. In a highly perferred embodiment, spent catalyst from the isomerization zone fulfills the catalyst requirement of the dehydrogenation zone.
Abstract:
A process for the removal of trace quantities of hydrocarbonaceous compounds from an aqueous stream which comprises the steps of: (a) contacting a solvent, which in the supercritical state is effective to dissolve the hydrocarbonaceous compounds from the aqueous stream, with the aqueous stream, for a time sufficient at supercritical solvent conditions to dissolve at least a portion of the hydrocarbonaceous compounds and to produce an aqueous stream having a reduced hydrocarbonaceous compound concentration; (b) separating the hydrocarbonaceous compounds from the solvent at subcritical conditions; and (c) recovering the hydrocarbonaceous compounds.
Abstract:
A process for the ammoxidation of olefinic hydrocarbons in a fluidized reactor is disclosed. The upper level of the fluidized catalyst bed is maintained near the inlet of the particle separator located at the top of the reactor. This reduces the temperature variation and homogeneous reactions within the reactor and also increases the useful life of the catalyst.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a reactor system for converting an oxygenate-containing feed stream to an olefin-containing product stream. The system includes: (1) a first fluidized catalytic reactor for converting methanol to propylene, the first reactor having a fluidized catalyst system comprising a first catalyst and a second catalyst; (2) a second fluidized catalytic reactor communicating with the first fluidized catalytic reactor for cracking heavy olefins having four carbon atoms or greater into propylene, the second reactor having the fluidized catalyst system; (3) wherein the first catalyst is a non-zeolite molecular sieve catalyst; and (4) wherein the second catalyst is a zeolite molecular sieve catalyst.
Abstract:
A novel process for the direct oxidation of hydrogen and hydrocarbons is disclosed, where the explosion risks inherent in gas phase oxidations are substantially eliminated. Gaseous oxidation reactants are soluble in a first reaction solvent phase such as a perfluorocarbon (e.g. C8F18) and the oxidation product is preferentially soluble in a second product solvent phase such as water or a dilute acid. A solid catalyst such as palladium on alumina is then contacted with the dissolved reactants. The oxidation product such as hydrogen peroxide may be separated from the reaction solvent phase by extraction into the immiscible product solvent phase and then separated from it by distillation, thereby allowing re-use of the aqueous phase. The present invention may be carried out using a two-phase reaction system whereby both the reaction solvent and product solvent are contained within a reaction vessel into which the solid catalyst is slurried and mechanically agitated to promote the reaction.
Abstract:
A reactor arrangement and process for indirectly contacting a reactant stream with a heat exchange stream uses an arrangement of corrugated heat exchange plates to control temperature conditions by varying the number and/or the arrangement of the corrugations along the plates. The reactor arrangement and process of this invention may be used to operate a reactor under isothermal or other controlled temperature conditions. The variation in corrugation arrangements within a single heat exchange section is highly useful in maintaining a desired temperature profile in an arrangement having a cross-flow of heat exchange medium relative to reactants. The corrugations arrangement eliminates or minimizes the typical step-wise approach to isothermal conditions.
Abstract:
The present invention provides an integrated process for the production of propylene oxide from an alternate feedstream such as synthesis gas. In the process, propylene oxide is produced from a feedstream comprising hydrogen and a carbon oxide. A portion of the feedstream is passed to an oxygenate production zone to produce an oxygenate stream comprising methanol and dimethyl ether, and the oxygenate stream is passed to an olefin production zone containing a metal aluminophosphate catalyst to produce a propylene stream. The propylene stream is epoxidized with hydrogen peroxide which has been produced from hydrogen separated from a portion of the feedstream. The spent water stream produced by the epoxidation reaction is treated to remove heavy components and returned to the hydrogen peroxide production zone. The return of the unreacted propylene from the epoxidation reaction zone for its subsequent recovery and recycle permits a less complicated, lower energy propylene separation. The recycling of spent water from the epoxidation reaction zone and the removal of heavy compounds eliminates a low value water stream and the recovery of heavy hydrocarbons therefrom produces a valuable secondary product.
Abstract:
Phenol is produced from a hydrocarbon feedstock using a process combination offering unexpected synergy. Benzene is produced from the hydrocarbon feedstock using a highly selective aromatization catalyst which provides substantial quantities of high-purity hydrogen. The hydrogen is converted to hydrogen peroxide, which in turn is used to convert the benzene to phenol in high yield.
Abstract:
A reactor arrangement and process for indirectly contacting a reactant stream with a heat exchange stream uses an arrangement of corrugated heat exchange plates to control temperature conditions by varying the number and/or the arrangement of the corrugations along the plates. The reactor arrangement and process of this invention may be used to operate a reactor under isothermal or other controlled temperature conditions. The variation in corrugation arrangements within a single heat exchange section is highly useful in maintaining a desired temperature profile in an arrangement having a cross-flow of heat exchange medium relative to reactants. The corrugations arrangement eliminates or minimizes the typical step-wise approach to isothermal conditions.
Abstract:
A process is disclosed for the recovery of butene-1 from a mixed C.sub.4 feed stream which also contains isobutylene, butene-2, isobutane and normal butane. The C.sub.4 feed stream is passed through an etherification reaction zone wherein isobutylene is selectively converted to an ether. The effluent of the etherification reaction zone is fractionated to produce a first stream comprising the product ether and C.sub.4 hydrocarbons and a second stream comprising isobutane and butene-1. The second stream is then separated to yield the butene-1. The first stream is preferably utilized in motor fuel production as by direct blending into a naphtha boiling material or by passage into an alkylation zone.