US 4,471,142 A · Process for producing isopropyl alcohol and di-isopropyl ether

Abstract

An improved process for indirect hydration of propylene to form di-isopropyl ether and isopropyl alcohol is provided in which propylene is absorbed in sulfuric acid to form an extract which is withdrawn from the absorbing zone; water in carefully controlled amounts is admixed with the extract and the resulting mixture is passed to an ether generating zone to form a vaporous ether product and a bottoms product depleted in di-isopropyl ether and containing sulfuric acid in a concentration at least equal to the acid concentration in the extract withdrawn from the absorbing zone. The withdrawn bottoms is then divided into two portions: a first portion is recycled to the absorber; and the second such portion is admixed with sufficient water to hydrate absorbed olefin values and the resulting mixture is fed to an alcohol generator for formation of isopropyl alcohol as overhead product and dilute sulfuric acid as bottoms product.

Claims7

Dependent claims

An improved process for the indirect hydration of propylene to form di-isopropyl ether and isopropyl alcohol which comprises:

(a) contacting gaseous propylene with sulfuric acid in an absorbing zone to form an extract liquid containing sulfuric acid and absorbed propylene values;
(b) contacting said extract liquid with water in a first water mixing zone to form a hydrated extract;
(c) subjecting said hydrated extract to conditions sufficient to form a vaporous ether product containing di-isopropyl ether and a depleted extract bottoms product, depleted in absorbed propylene values and containing sulfuric acid in a concentration at least equal to the acid concentration in said extract liquid passed as feed to said first water mixing zone;
(d) recycling from about 30 to 65 weight percent of said depleted extract to said absorbing zone and contacting the remaining portion of said depleted extract with water in a second water mixing zone;
and
(e) subjecting the aqueous mixture withdrawn from said second water mixing zone to distillation to obtain a vaporous overhead product comprising isopropyl alcohol and a spent sulfuric acid as bottoms product.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Process for producing isopropyl alcohol and di-isopropyl ether

Life of this patent

Process for producing isopropyl alcohol and di-isopropyl ether

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims7