Abstract:
A process is disclosed for the recovery of a phenol-free cumene fraction from a mixture thereof with phenol and water. Said mixture is introduced into a first fractionation column at conditions to separate a bottom fraction comprising a major portion of said phenol and an overhead fraction comprising said cumene and water and a residual portion of said phenol. The overhead fraction is condensed to form an aqueous phase containing a minor portion of the residual phenol and a water-saturated organic phase comprising cumene and the balance of said residual phenol. The water-saturated organic phase is then further treated in a second fractionation column whereby cumene is recovered as an overhead fraction substantially free of phenol.
Abstract:
A process is disclosed for the recovery of a cumene/alpha-methylstyrene fraction from a mixture thereof with phenol and water. Said mixture is introduced into a fractionation column at conditions to separate an overhead fraction comprising cumene and alpha-methylstyrene and a phenol bottoms fraction. A vapor stream comprising cumene, alpha-methylstyrene and a phenol-water azeotrope is withdrawn from an intermediate level of said column and condensed to form an organic phase and an aqueous phase comprising phenol. The latter is discharged, and the former is recycled to the column. The overhead fraction thus requires substantially less caustic to neutralize the residual phenol container therein.
Abstract:
A process for the ammoxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons in a fluidized bed reactor is disclosed. The upper level of a dense bed of fluidized catalyst is maintained near the inlet of the particle separator located at the top of the reactor. This reduces the temperature variation and the homogeneous reactions within the reactor and also increases the useful life of the catalyst.
Abstract:
A process for the ammoxidation of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons in a fluidized bed reactor is disclosed. A relatively small stream of catalyst is removed from an unsegregated single catalyst bed within the reaction zone and passed into a regeneration zone operated at a higher temperature. Metals on the catalyst are oxidized by contact in the regeneration zone with a preheated oxygen containing gas stream, which is then passed into the reaction zone. The residual oxygen in this gas stream may supply 15 percent or more of the oxygen consumed in the reaction zone. The continuous regeneration maintains the metals on the catalyst in a high oxidation state.