Abstract:
The invention provides a process for the separation of MEG and 1,2-BDO from a first mixture comprising MEG and 1,2-BDO in a weight ratio of at least 10:1 (MEG:1,2-BDO), said process comprising the steps of; (i) providing the first mixture as a feed to a distillation column at a point in the range of from 20 to 80% of the column height; (ii) operating the distillation at a temperature in the range of from 120 to 190° C. and at a pressure in the range of from 5 kPa to atmospheric pressure; (iii) removing an MEG stream from the distillation column at a point below the point at which the first mixture is fed; (iv) removing an overheads stream comprising an azeotrope of MEG and 1,2-BDO.
Abstract:
The invention provides a process for the catalytic conversion of a saccharide-containing feedstock in a reactor, wherein saccharide-containing feedstock is provided to the reactor as a feed stream through a feed pipe and is contacted with a catalyst system in the reactor and a reaction product is continuously removed from the reactor and wherein the saccharide-containing feedstock is provided through the feed pipe as a pulsed flow and is alternated with a second feed stream comprising a solvent being provided through the same feed pipe.
Abstract:
A process for preparing glycols from a lignocellulosic solid biomass involves contacting the biomass with an organic solvent comprising a low boiling point alcohol and a pre-treatment acid at a temperature in a range from 80 to 220° C. and a pressure in a range from 1 to 50 bara. The resulting mixture, having less than wt. % water, is separated into a pre-treated solid residue comprising cellulose and a liquid stream comprising dissolved lignin. The pre-treated solid residue is subjected to a hydrogenolysis reaction. generating a glycols stream, a lights stream, comprising a first portion of organic solvent, and a heavies stream. At least part of the liquid stream is separated to produce a second portion of organic solvent and a lignin stream. At least part of the first and second portions of organic solvent is recycled to the contacting step.
Abstract:
The invention provides a process for the preparation of ethylene glycol and 1,2-propylene glycol from starting material comprising one or more saccharide, wherein the process comprises the steps of: i) providing the starting material and hydrogen to a first reactor and reacting said starting material and hydrogen therein in the presence of a solvent and a first catalyst system comprising a retro-aldol catalyst composition and a hydrogenation catalyst composition; ii) continuously removing a first reactor product stream from the first reactor, said first reactor product stream comprising ethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol and in the range of from 2 to 40 wt % of sugar alcohols; iii) contacting said first reactor product stream in a second reactor in the presence of hydrogen with a second catalyst system comprising at least a hydrogenation catalyst composition; and iv) converting a portion of the sugar alcohols in the second reactor into ethylene glycol and/or 1,2-propylene glycol to provide a second reactor product stream comprising ethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol and in the range of from 10 to 80% of the amount of sugar alcohols present in the first reactor product stream.
Abstract:
The invention provides a method for determining the dew point of a vaporized hydrocarbon feedstock, comprising heating a hydrocarbon feedstock and a hydrocarbon diluent to a first temperature and maintaining the feedstock and diluent at that temperature until all hydrocarbon feedstock is vaporized and a homogeneous mixture is obtained; passing a first flow of the mixture through a first zone maintained at a second temperature, which is lower than the first temperature; halting the first flow; passing a sweep gas through the first zone and providing the sweep gas to a detector for detecting hydrocarbons; decreasing the temperature of the first zone, wherein steps (c) to (f) are repeated at least until a hydrocarbon presence is detected in the sweep gas.The invention further provides a method for measuring the dew point of a steam cracker feed and a system for determining the dew point of a vaporized hydrocarbon feedstock.
Abstract:
The invention provides a process for the separation of a first C3 to C7 diol from a first mixture of C3 to C7 diols. The first mixture is provided to a first distillation column. An extractant is fed to the first distillation column above the first mixture. A stream comprising the first diol and the extractant is removed as a bottoms stream from the first distillation column and subjected to distillation in a second distillation column. A high purity first diol stream is removed from the top section of the second distillation column, while a used extractant stream is removed from the bottom section. The extractant is a C3 to C6 sugar alcohol or mixture thereof. The first diol is a close-boiler to and/or forms an azeotrope with one or more of the other C3 to C7 diols present in the first mixture.
Abstract:
The invention provides a continuous process for the preparation of ethylene glycol and 1, 2-propylene glycol from starting material comprising one or more saccharides, said process being carried out in a reactor system comprising a reactor vessel equipped with an external recycle loop and said process comprising the steps of: i) providing the starting material in a solvent, via an inlet, to the external recycle loop and contacting it therein with a retro-aldol catalyst composition to provide an intermediate stream; ii) then contacting said intermediate stream with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst composition in the reactor vessel; iii) withdrawing a product stream comprising glycols from the reactor vessel; iv) providing a portion of said product stream, via an outlet, for separation and purification of the glycols contained therein; and v) recycling the remainder of said product stream via the external recycle loop.
Abstract:
The invention provides a process for the preparation of ethylene glycol and 1, 2-propylene glycol from starting material comprising one or more saccharides, wherein the process comprises the steps of i) providing the starting material and hydrogen to a first reactor, which first reactor operates with mixing; ii) reacting said starting material and hydrogen in the first reactor in the presence of solvent and a catalyst system; iii) continuously removing a first reactor product stream from the first reactor; iv) supplying at least a portion of the first reactor product stream to a second reactor, which reactor operates essentially in a plug flow manner; and v) further reacting the first reactor product stream with hydrogen in the presence of a solvent and optionally a catalyst system in the second reactor.
Abstract:
The invention provides a method for determining the dew point of a vaporised hydrocarbon feedstock, comprising heating a hydrocarbon feedstock and a hydrocarbon diluent to a first temperature and maintaining the feedstock and diluent at that temperature until all hydrocarbon feedstock is vaporized and a homogeneous mixture is obtained; passing a first flow of the mixture through a first zone maintained at a second temperature, which is lower than the first temperature; halting the first flow; passing a sweep gas through the first zone and providing the sweep gas to a detector for detecting hydrocarbons; decreasing the temperature of the first zone, wherein steps (c) to (f) are repeated at least until a hydrocarbon presence is detected in the sweep gas.The invention further provides a method for measuring the dew point of a steam cracker feed and a system for determining the dew point of a vaporised hydrocarbon feedstock.
Abstract:
The invention provides a start-up method for a process for the preparation of glycols from a starting material comprising one or more saccharides in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst system comprising one or more retro-aldol catalysts comprising tungsten and one or more catalytic species suitable for hydrogenation in a reactor, said method comprising introducing the one or more retro-aldol catalysts to the reactor whilst also in the presence of one or more agents suitable to suppress tungsten precipitation.