Abstract:
In a process for alkylating benzene contained in a benzene-containing refinery gasoline stream, the benzene-containing refinery gasoline stream is contacted with an alkylating agent selected from one or more C2 to C5 olefins in at least one alkylation reaction zone under alkylation conditions to produce an alkylated effluent which has reduced benzene content as compared with said refinery gasoline stream and is essentially free of said alkylating agent. An aliquot of the alkylated effluent is then recycled to the one at least one alkylation reaction zone such that the molar ratio of alkylatable aromatic compounds to said alkylating agent in the combined refinery gasoline and recycle streams introduced into the at least one alkylation reaction zone is at least 1.0:1.
Abstract:
Both a crystallizer and method for the evaporative production of phenol-BPA adduct crystals are provided that achieve more uniform crystal growth while suppressing undesired crystal nucleation. The crystallizer includes a cylindrical vessel; a draft tube concentrically disposed within the cylindrical vessel such that an annular space is defined between the vessel and tube; an impeller that circulates liquid in the vessel through the draft tube and the annular space, and a plurality of nozzles mounted around an inner wall of said cylindrical vessel that introduce an evaporative coolant into the vessel. Each of the nozzles includes a discharge end disposed between about 30% and 60% of a radial extent of the annular space, and is located below an upper end of the draft tube a distance of between about 50% to 150% of the diameter of the vessel. Such a nozzle arrangement provides a consistent and uniform concentration of coolant across the surface of the boiling zone that prevents or at least reduces unwanted crystal nucleation on the inner surfaces of the vessel and promotes uniform crystal growth by providing a consistent and uniform degree of supersaturation across the annular space within the boiling zone.
Abstract:
In a process for producing cumene from acetone and benzene, a feed stream comprising acetone is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst in a first reaction zone under hydrogenation conditions sufficient to convert at least part of the acetone to isopropanol and produce a first liquid effluent stream rich in isopropanol and a first vapor stream rich in unreacted hydrogen. Benzene is then added to at least part of the first liquid effluent stream, without intermediate purification of the first liquid effluent stream, and optionally to at least part of the first vapor stream, to form a second feed stream. The second feed stream is then contacted with an alkylation catalyst in a second reaction zone separate from the first reaction zone under alkylation conditions sufficient to maintain at least part of the second feed stream in the liquid phase and to cause at least part of the isopropanol in the second feed stream to react with the benzene to form cumene and water and produce a second effluent stream comprising at least cumene, water and unreacted benzene. Hydrogen is separated from the first vapor stream and/or the second effluent stream. At least part of the hydrogen is recycled to the first reaction zone and/or purged from the system.
Abstract:
In a process for producing cumene from acetone and benzene, a feed stream comprising acetone is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst in a first reaction zone under hydrogenation conditions sufficient to convert at least part of the acetone to isopropanol and produce a first liquid effluent stream rich in isopropanol and a first vapor stream rich in unreacted hydrogen. Benzene is then added to at least part of the first liquid effluent stream, without intermediate purification of the first liquid effluent stream, and optionally to at least part of the first vapor stream, to form a second feed stream. The second feed stream is then contacted with an alkylation catalyst in a second reaction zone separate from the first reaction zone under alkylation conditions sufficient to maintain at least part of the second feed stream in the liquid phase and to cause at least part of the isopropanol in the second feed stream to react with the benzene to form cumene and water and produce a second effluent stream comprising at least cumene, water and unreacted benzene. Hydrogen is separated from the first vapor stream and/or the second effluent stream. At least part of the hydrogen is recycled to the first reaction zone and/or purged from the system.
Abstract:
A process is described for producing an alkylaromatic compound in a multistage reaction system comprising at least first and second series-connected alkylation reaction zones each containing an alkylation catalyst. A first feed comprising an alkylatable aromatic compound and a second feed comprising an alkene and one or more alkanes are introduced into said first alkylation reaction zone. The first alkylation reaction zone is operated under conditions of temperature and pressure effective to cause alkylation of the aromatic compound with the alkene in the presence of the alkylation catalyst, the temperature and pressure being such that the aromatic compound is partly in the vapor phase and partly in the liquid phase. An effluent comprising the alkylaromatic compound, unreacted alkylatable aromatic compound, any unreacted alkene and the alkane is withdrawn from the first alkylation reaction zone and then supplied to the second alkylation reaction zone without removal of the alkane. The operating conditions in each of said first and second reaction zones are such that the ratio of the volume of liquid to the volume of vapor in each zone is from about 0.1 to about 10.
Abstract:
A process is described for reducing the level of benzene in a refinery gasoline feed containing benzene and at least one C 5+ olefin, in which the refinery gasoline feed is contacted with a first alkylation catalyst under conditions effective to react at least part of the C 5+ olefin and benzene in the refinery gasoline feed and produce a first alkylation effluent. The first alkylation effluent is separated into at least (i) a first fraction rich in benzene, (ii) a second fraction rich in C 7 to C 12 hydrocarbons and (iii) a third fraction rich in C 13+ hydrocarbons. At least part of the first fraction is contacted with an alkylating agent comprising one or more C 2 to C 4 olefins in the presence of a second alkylation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a second alkylation effluent which has reduced benzene content as compared with the first fraction.
Abstract:
In an aromatics alkylation process, an aromatic hydrocarbon feedstock comprising an alkylatable aromatic hydrocarbon, at least 150 ppm by weight water and at least one organic nitrogen impurity is supplied to a dehydration zone where water is removed from the aromatic hydrocarbon feedstock to provide a dehydrated aromatic feedstock having a water content of no more than 20 ppm by weight. The dehydrated aromatic feedstock is then contacted with a clay adsorbent under conditions including a temperature less than 130°C such that the adsorbent removes at least part of the organic nitrogen impurity contained in the feedstock and produces a treated aromatic feedstock. The treated aromatic feedstock is then supplied to an alkylation reaction zone and/or a transalkylation reaction zone.
Abstract:
In a process for balancing gasoline and distillate production in a refinery, benzene in a refinery gasoline stream is contacted with a C 2 to C 5 alkylating agent under alkylation conditions in an alkylation zone to produce an alkylation effluent comprising one or more monoalkylbenzenes and one or more polyalkylbenzenes. At least part of said alkylation effluent can then be supplied to gasoline production whereas, depending on refinery needs, a varying amount of the one or more polyalkylbenzenes in the alkylation effluent is supplied to distillate production.
Abstract:
In a process for alkylating an aromatic hydrocarbon feedstock with an olefin feedstock, at least one of the aromatic hydrocarbon and olefin feedstocks is passed through a pretreatment unit containing an adsorbent such that the adsorbent removes impurities contained by the feedstock. Passage of the at least one feedstock through the pretreatment unit is then terminated and a heated inert gas is passed through the pretreatment unit such that the inert gas desorbs impurities from the adsorbent to produce an inert gas effluent stream containing the desorbed impurities. A condensable fluid is added to at least part of the inert gas effluent stream such that at least a portion of the impurities contained therein condense with said fluid to leave a purified inert gas stream, which is recycled to the pretreatment unit.
Abstract:
In a process for producing cumene, isopropanol containing nitrogenous impurities is reacted with benzene in an alkylation reactor to produce an effluent stream comprising cumene, unreacted benzene and water. Water is removed from the effluent stream and an aliquot of the resultant dried effluent stream is treated to remove nitrogenous impurities and produce a purified recycle stream. At least part of the purified recycle stream is then recycled to the alkylation reactor. In an alternative embodiment, the isopropanol is combined with fresh and/or recycled benzene and the combined stream is treated to remove nitrogenous impurities before being fed to the alkylation reactor.