US 10,105,668 B2Granted

Gas distribution in oxidation reactions

AssigneeExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.

InventorsYesim Igci, Bryan A. Patel, Min Chang

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Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus for distribution of oxygen-containing gas within a gas-liquid oxidation reaction are provided herein. The invention is particularly suited for oxidation of liquid-phase organic reactants with oxidizing gas, such as the oxidation of cyclohexylbenzene to cyclohexylbenzene hydroperoxide using an oxygen-containing gas. The oxygen-containing gas is distributed through a gas distributor and into a liquid-phase reaction medium within an oxidation reactor. In some aspects, this achieves a high degree of uniformity of oxygen concentration within the liquid-phase reaction medium. The gas distributor is disposed within a lower portion of the reactor, and may comprise a network of conduits in fluid communication with each other, which are arranged within a plane that is substantially parallel to a bottom surface of the reactor. A plurality of orifices are disposed on the conduits, such that oxygen-containing gas flows through the conduits and into the liquid-phase reaction medium via the orifices.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A process comprising:

(a) providing a liquid feed comprising cyclohexylbenzene to an oxidation reactor, thereby forming a liquid-phase reaction medium in the oxidation reactor;
(b) providing an oxidation catalyst to the liquid-phase reaction medium, either together with or separately from the liquid feed;
(c) distributing an oxygen-containing gas into the liquid-phase reaction medium through a gas distributor, wherein the gas distributor (i) is disposed in a lower portion of the oxidation reactor, (ii) is submerged in the liquid-phase reaction medium, and (iii) comprises a network of conduits through which the oxygen-containing gas flows, said conduits being in direct or indirect fluid communication with one another and having disposed thereon a plurality of orifices through which the oxygen-containing gas passes from the conduits into the liquid-phase reaction medium;
and
(d) forming cyclohexylbenzene hydroperoxide in the liquid-phase reaction medium;
wherein the conduits are disposed within a gas distributor horizontal cross-sectional area that is substantially parallel to a bottom surface of the oxidation reactor, and which occupies from 70 to 95% of the cross sectional area of the lower portion of the oxidation reactor in which the gas distributor is disposed;
and
wherein there are on average 0.5-5 of the orifices per square foot within the gas distributor horizontal cross-sectional area.

5 more elements

A reactor system comprising:

(I) a first oxidation reactor having disposed thereon (i) a first liquid inlet configured to receive a liquid-phase oxidation reaction mixture, such that a first liquid-phase reaction medium is formed in the first oxidation reactor as the liquid-phase oxidation reaction mixture is received through the first liquid inlet during operation of the reactor system;
(ii) a first gas inlet configured to receive an oxygen-containing gas;
(iii) a first liquid outlet through which a first oxidation reaction product may flow from the first liquid-phase reaction medium;
and
(I-a) a first gas distributor disposed in a lower portion of the first oxidation reactor and further in fluid communication with the first gas inlet, wherein
(i) the first gas distributor comprises a first network of conduits, said conduits being in direct or indirect fluid communication with one another such that the oxygen-containing gas received by the first gas inlet during operation of the reactor system flows through the entire network of conduits, and said conduits having disposed thereon a first plurality of orifices through which the oxygen-containing gas may flow out of the first gas distributor and into the first liquid-phase reaction medium;
(ii) the conduits of the first gas distributor are disposed within a first gas distributor horizontal cross-sectional area that is substantially parallel to a bottom surface of the first oxidation reactor, and which occupies from 70 to 95% of the cross sectional area of the lower portion of the first oxidation reactor in which the first gas distributor is disposed;
and
(iii) there are on average 0.5-5 of the orifices per square foot within the first gas distributor horizontal cross-sectional area.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/577,030Filed 3 Jun 2016 · us provisional application
Priority: 30 Jun 2015
Published: US 2018/0141018 A124 May 2018
Granted: 23 Oct 2018
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

B01J 8/22
With liquid as a fluidising medium: gas being introduced into the liquid
B01J 4/004
Feed or outlet devices as such, e.g. feeding tubes: sparger-type elements
C07C 407/00
Preparation of peroxy compounds
C07C 409/14
The —O—O— group being bound between a carbon atom, not further substituted by oxygen atoms, and hydrogen, i.e. hydroperoxides: the carbon atom…