Abstract:
A method for washing an oligomerization reactor using by-product solvent recovered from the reactor can include: catalytically converting a monomer in a reactor section in a reaction mode in the presence of a catalyst to form a product stream comprising an oligomer, a by-product solvent, and a polymeric by-product; separating the product stream into a first fraction comprising the oligomer and a second fraction comprising a mixture of the by-product solvent and the polymeric by-product; and separating, in a thin film evaporator, the second fraction into a third fraction comprising the by-product solvent and a fourth fraction comprising the polymeric by-product.
Abstract:
A method for washing an oligomerization reactor using by-product solvent recovered from the reactor can include: catalytically converting a monomer in a reactor section in a reaction mode in the presence of a catalyst to form a product stream comprising an oligomer, a by-product solvent, and a polymeric by-product; separating the product stream into a first fraction comprising the oligomer and a second fraction comprising a mixture of the by-product solvent and the polymeric by-product; and separating, in a thin film evaporator, the second fraction into a third fraction comprising the by-product solvent and a fourth fraction comprising the polymeric by-product.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a hydroalkylation process in which the hydroalkylation catalyst is activated in the presence of a flowing fluid comprising hydrogen and a condensable agent. The presence of the condensable agent enables fast, effective activation of the hydroalkylation catalyst precursor in a cost-effective manner. It also yields superior catalyst performance.
Abstract:
In a process for producing cyclohexylbenzene, benzene is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a hydroalkylation catalyst under hydroalkylation conditions effective to form a first effluent stream comprising cyclohexylbenzene, cyclohexane, and benzene. At least a portion of the cyclohexane from the first effluent stream is then contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst under dehydrogenation conditions effective to convert at least some of the cyclohexane into benzene contained in a second effluent stream. At least some of the hydrogen is supplied to the process so as to contact the dehydrogenation zone (e.g., the dehydrogenation catalyst) before contacting the hydroalkylation catalyst.
Abstract:
In a process for producing phenol and/or cyclohexanone, cyclohexylbenzene is contacted with an oxygen-containing gas to produce an oxidation effluent containing cyclohexylbenzene hydroperoxide. At least a portion of the cyclohexylbenzene hydroperoxide is then contacted with a cleavage catalyst to produce a cleavage effluent containing phenol and cyclohexanone and by-products including phenylcyclohexanol. The cleavage effluent or a neutralized product thereof also comprises at least one compound comprising an atom not being carbon, hydrogen or oxygen, which is separated from the cleavage effluent and/or the neutralized product thereof to leave a cleavage fraction lean in the compound comprising an atom not being carbon, hydrogen or oxygen and containing at least a portion of the phenylcyclohexanol. At least a portion of the phenylcyclohexanol is then contacted with a dehydration catalyst comprising a molecular sieve of the MCM-22 type to convert at least a portion of the phenylcyclohexanol to phenyl cyclohexene.
Abstract:
In a process for separating a mixture comprising cyclohexanone and phenol, at least a portion of the mixture is distilled in the presence of a solvent including at least two alcoholic hydroxyl groups attached to non-adjacent saturated carbon atoms, water, and in the presence or absence of a hemiketal defined by the formula (I) or the formula (II): wherein R1, the same or different at each occurrence, is independently an alkylene group having from 2 to 10 carbon atoms, R2 is an alkylene group having from 4 to 10 carbon atoms and/or R3 is hydrogen or the following group: and in the presence or absence of an enol-ether derived from the hemiketal defined by the formula (I) or the formula (II), wherein the total concentration of the hemiketal and enol-ether, expressed in term of weight percentage of the total weight of the feed to the distilling step, is at most 0.01%.
Abstract:
In a process for producing 3,4′ and/or 4,4′ dimethyl-substituted biphenyl compounds, a feed comprising toluene is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a hydroalkylation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a hydroalkylation reaction product comprising (methylcyclohexyl)toluenes. At least part of the hydroalkylation reaction product is dehydrogenated in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a dehydrogenation reaction product comprising a mixture of dimethyl-substituted biphenyl isomers. The dehydrogenation reaction product is then separated into at least a first stream containing at least 50% of 3,4′ and 4,4′ dimethylbiphenyl isomers by weight of the first stream and at least one second stream comprising one or more 2,x′ (where x′ is 2′, 3′, or 4′) and 3,3′ dimethylbiphenyl isomers.
Abstract:
In a process for producing phenol, benzene is reacted with a source of hydrogen containing methane in the presence of a hydroalkylation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a hydroalkylation reaction effluent comprising cyclohexylbenzene, benzene, hydrogen, and methane. A first stream comprising hydrogen, methane, and benzene is removed from the hydroalkylation reaction effluent and the first stream is washed with a second stream containing cyclohexylbenzene to produce a benzene-depleted hydrogen stream containing hydrogen and methane and a wash stream containing cyclohexylbenzene and benzene.
Abstract:
The invention relates to hydrocarbon conversion processes, to equipment useful in such processes, to the products of such hydrocarbon conversion processes and the use thereof, and to the use of energy derived from such processes.