Method for synthesising a mercaptan by adding hydrogen sulfide to an olefin

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for synthesising a mercaptan from a terminal olefin and hydrogen sulphide which comprises the following consecutive steps: A—catalytic addition of hydrogen sulphide to a terminal olefin catalysed by an acid catalyst; B—separation of the products of the addition reaction into a light fraction including the surplus hydrogen sulphide and the olefins, and into a heavy fraction including at least one mercaptan and optionally one or more thioethers; C—a finishing step of passing the light fraction obtained in step B over an acid catalyst; then D—separation of the products of the finishing step into a fraction that is rich in hydrogen sulphide and into a fraction that is rich in additives; and finally E—recirculation of the fraction that is rich in hydrogen sulphide to the catalytic addition step A. The invention also relates to the facility for implementing said method.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.