Process for preparing cyclohexane with starting materials originating from a steamcracking process

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for preparing cyclohexane by isomerizing a hydrocarbon mixture (HM1) comprising methylcyclopentane (MCP) in the presence of a catalyst. The catalyst is preferably an acidic ionic liquid. The starting material used is a stream (S1) which originates from a steamcracking process. The hydrocarbon mixture (HM1) obtained from this stream (S1) in an apparatus for aromatics removal has a reduced aromatics content compared to stream (S1), and (HM1) may optionally also be (virtually) free of aromatics. Depending on the type and amount of the aromatics remaining in the hydrocarbon mixture (HM1), especially in the case that benzene is present, the isomerization may additionally be preceded by performance of a hydrogenation of (HM1). In addition, depending on the presence of other components of (HM1), further purification steps may optionally be performed prior to or after the isomerization or hydrogenation. High-purity (on-spec) cyclohexane is preferably isolated from the hydrocarbon mixture (HM2) obtained in the isomerization, the specifications being, for example, those applicable to the use of the cyclohexane for the preparation, known to those skilled in the art, of caprolactam.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.