Catalytic oxidation/decarbonylation of polynuclear aromatic compounds
AssigneeHydrocarbon Research, Inc.
InventorFrancis P. Daly
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Abstract
This invention provides processes for the production of benzene from anthracene, 9,10-anthraquinone from anthracene, and benzene from 9,10-anthraquinone. In the conversion of anthracene to 9,10-anthraquinone, anthracene is reacted with a molecular oxygen-containing gas (e.g., air) in the presence of a catalyst and promotor at an elevated temperature (65.degree. to 205.degree. C.). To convert 9,10-anthraquinone to benzene, the anthraquinone is thermally cracked, with or without a suitable catalyst, at a temperature of at least 425.degree. C. An example of a suitable catalyst is synthetic zeolite.
Claims29
A process of producing benzene from anthracene comprising:
- (a) oxidizing the anthracene to anthraquinone by reacting the anthracene with a molecular oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of ceric ammonium nitrate, ceric nitrate, ceric ammonium sulfate, ceric sulfate, ceric perchlorate or other compounds of Ce.sup.+4, and in the presence of a promoter, the reaction being carried out at a temperature of from about 65.degree. to about 205.degree. C. in an essentially water-free environment;
- (b) thermally cracking the anthraquinone obtained in (a) at a temperature of from about 425.degree. to about 760.degree. C., and in an inert atmosphere to form benzene.
A process of producing benzene from anthracene comprising:
- (a) oxidizing the anthracene to anthraquinone by reacting the anthracene with air in the presence of a catalyst consisting of essentially ceric ammonium nitrate, and in the presence of a promoter consisting of substantially potassium chlorate, the reaction being carried out at a temperature of from about 65.degree. to about 205.degree. C. in an essentially water-free environment and at a gravimetric feed rate of about 0.2 to 2.5 gm anthracene/hr/gm catalyst;
- (b) thermally cracking the anthraquinone obtained in (a) in the presence of synthetic zeolite cracking catalyst at a temperature of from about 425.degree. to about 750.degree. C., and in an inert atmosphere at gravimetric feed rate of about 0.1 to 8.0 gm anthraquinone/hr/gm catalyst to form benzene.
A process of producing 9, 10-anthraquinone comprising reacting anthracene with a molecular oxygen-containing gas at a temperature of from about 65.degree. to about 205.degree. C. (149.degree.-401.degree. F.) in the presence of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of ceric ammonium nitrate, ceric nitrate, ceric ammonium sulfate, ceric sulfate, ceric perchlorate or other compounds of Ce.sup.+4, the reaction being conducted in an essentially water-free environment.
A process of producing 9, 10-anthraquinone comprising reacting anthracene with air at a temperature of from about 65.degree. to about 205.degree. C. (149.degree.-401.degree. F.) in the presence of a catalyst consisting essentially of ceric ammonium nitrate, the reaction being conducted in an essentially water-free environment and at a gravimetric feed rate from about 0.2 to about 2.5 gm anthraquinone/hour/gm catalyst.
A process of producing benzene from 9, 10-anthraquinone comprising thermally cracking 9, 10-anthraquinone at a temperature of from about 425.degree. to about 760.degree. C. (797.degree.-1400.degree. F.) and in an inert atmosphere.
A process of producing benzene from 9, 10-anthraquinone comprising thermally cracking 9, 10-anthraquinone at a temperature of from about 425.degree. to about 760.degree. C. (797.degree.-1400.degree. F.) in an inert atmosphere in the presence of a thermal cracking catalyst consisting essentially of synthetic zeolites and wherein the reaction is carried out at a gravimetric feed rate of from about 0.1 to 8.0 gm anthraquinone/hour/gm catalyst.
A process of producing benzene from a mixture of polynuclear aromatic compounds having a boiling temperature ranging from about 170.degree. to about 380.degree. C. (338.degree.-716.degree. F.), comprising:
- (a) oxidizing the mixture of polynuclear aromatic compounds by reacting the mixture with a molecular oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of ceric ammonium nitrate, ceric nitrate, ceric ammonium sulfate, ceric sulfate, ceric perchlorate or other compounds of Ce.sup.+4 and a promoter material, the reaction being carried out at a temperature of from about 65.degree. to about 205.degree. C. and in an essentially water-free environment,
- (b) thermally cracking the product of (a) at a temperature of from about 425.degree. to about 760.degree. C. and in an inert atmosphere to produce benzene.
A process of producing benzene from a mixture of polynuclear aromatic compounds derived from coal and having a boiling temperature ranging from about 170.degree. to about 380.degree. C. (338.degree.-716.degree. F.), comprising:
- (a) oxidizing the mixture of polynuclear aromatic compounds by reacting the mixture with air in the presence of a catalyst consisting essentially of ceric ammonium nitrate, and a promoter material of substantially potassium chlorate, the reaction being carried out at a temperature of from about 65.degree. to about 205.degree. C. in an essentially water-free environment, and at a gravimetric feed rate of from about 0.2 to about 2.5 gm feed/hour/gm catalyst;
- (b) thermally cracking the product of (a) in the presence of a synthetic zeolite thermal cracking catalyst at a temperature of from about 425.degree. to about 760.degree. C. in an inert atmosphere at a gravimetric feed rate of from about 0.1 to 8.0 gm feed/hr/gm catalyst to produce benzene.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.