Dealkylation Process
AssigneeExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
InventorsKun Wang, James R. Lattner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a process for dealkylating a poly-alkylated aromatic compound, a feed comprising at least one poly-alkylated aromatic compound selected from polypropylbenzene, polybutylbenzene, and polycyclohexylbenzene is introduced into a reaction zone. The feed is then contacted in the reaction zone with an acid catalyst under conditions effective to dealkylate at least a portion of the poly-alkylated aromatic compound and produce a first reaction product comprising at least one mono-alkylated aromatic compound.
Claims25
A process for dealkylating a poly-alkylated aromatic compound, the process comprising:
- (a) introducing a feed comprising at least one poly-alkylated aromatic compound selected from polypropylbenzene, polybutylbenzene, and polycyclohexylbenzene into a reaction zone;
- and
- (b) contacting the feed in the reaction zone with an acid catalyst under conditions effective to dealkylate at least a portion of the poly-alkylated aromatic compound to produce a first reaction product comprising (i) a first compound comprising at least one mono-alkylated aromatic compound and (ii) a second compound comprising at least one compound selected from an alkane and alkene.
The process of any preceding claim, and further comprising the step of introducing benzene into the reaction zone, wherein the weight ratio of benzene to the poly-alkylated aromatic compound in the feed is from 0.01 to about 0.9.
The process of any preceding claim, wherein the weight ratio of benzene to the poly-alkylated aromatic compound in the feed is from about 0.01 to about 0.5.
The process of any preceding claim and further comprising the step of introducing hydrogen into the reaction zone so that the molar ratio of hydrogen to poly-alkylated aromatic compound in the total feed to the reaction zone is from about 0.01 to about 10.
The process of any preceding claim, wherein the acid catalyst is selected from an aluminosilicate, an aluminophosphate, a silicoaluminphosphate, amorphous silica-alumina, an acidic clay, a mixed metal oxide, phosphoric acid, sulfated zirconia, and mixtures thereof.
The process of any preceding claim, wherein the acid catalyst is selected from at least one aluminosilicate, aluminophosphate, or silicoaluminphosphate of the FAU, AEL, AFI and MWW family.
The process of any preceding claim, wherein the conditions include a temperature of about 150° C. to about 500° C. and a pressure of 15 to 500 psig (100 to 3550 kPag).
The process of any preceding claim, wherein the reaction zone is part of a distillation reactor unit.
The process of any preceding claim, and further comprising hydrogenating at least a portion of the first reaction product.
The process of any preceding claim, and further comprising:
- (c) separating the first reaction product into a first fraction comprising the first compound and a second fraction comprising the second compound;
- and
- (d) hydrogenating at least a portion of the first fraction to produce a second reaction product.
A process for producing cyclohexylbenzene from benzene, the process comprising:
- (a) contacting benzene and hydrogen in a first reaction zone with a catalyst under hydroalkylation conditions to produce a first effluent comprising cyclohexylbenzene, unreacted benzene and at least one polycyclohexylbenzene;
- (b) separating at least a portion of the first effluent into a first stream comprising the unreacted benzene, a second stream comprising the cyclohexylbenzene and a third stream comprising the polycyclohexylbenzene;
- (c) feeding at least a portion of the third stream into a second reaction zone;
- and
- (d) contacting the third stream in the second reaction zone with an acid catalyst under conditions effective to dealkylate at least a portion of the polycyclohexylbenzene and produce a second effluent comprising at least one C6 compound and at least one C12 compound.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.