Process for forming cyclopentane from dicyclopentadiene

Abstract

A method for producing a cyclopentane product which comprises the following steps: (a) cracking dicyclopentadiene to form a cyclopentadiene-rich stream and a higher boiling liquids stream; (b) separating the cyclopentadiene-rich stream from the higher boiling liquids stream; (c) diluting the cyclopentadiene-rich stream with recycled saturates such that the cyclopentadiene content is limited to between about 5-50%; (d) conducting a first hydrogenation of the cyclopentadiene-rich stream in the presence of hydrogen and a first catalyst, and at a temperature (i.e., preferably between about 26 to 94° C., more preferably in the range between about 37 to 66° C.) which is capable of avoiding the repolymerization of cyclopentadiene to dicyclopentadiene, thereby forming a cyclopentadiene-depleted stream; (e) conducting a second hydrogenation of the cyclopentadiene-depleted stream in the presence of a second catalyst wherein any residual olefins and/or cyclopentadiene contained within the cyclopentadiene-depleted stream are saturated, thereby forming a crude cyclopentane product; and (f) flash stripping the crude cyclopentane product to form the cyclopentane product comprising about 95% pure cyclopentane.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.