Process for the production of petrochemicals
AssigneeThe BOC Group, Inc.
InventorsRamakrishnan Ramachandran, Donald L. MacLean
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved process is provided for the production of a petrochemical by the vapor phase reaction of a hydrocarbon with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a suitable catalyst to produce a flammable gaseous product stream comprising the desired petrochemical, unreacted hydrocarbon, oxygen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. In the improved process, a cooled or liquefied inert gas is injected as a quench fluid into the gaseous product stream exiting the hydrocarbon oxidation reactor, thereby cooling the stream to a temperature below the autoignition temperature of the flammable components of the stream, the petrochemical is recovered from the gaseous product and unreacted hydrocarbon is removed from the gaseous product and recycled to the reactor.
Claims40
A process for the production of a hydrocarbon partial oxidation product comprising:
- (a) contacting in the vapor phase in a reaction zone a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of aromatic hydrocarbons having 6 to 10 carbon atoms, alkanes having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, alkenes having 2 to 4 carbon atoms and mixtures of these, and an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of an oxidation catalyst under conditions which produce a gaseous product containing said hydrocarbon partial oxidation product;
- (b) quenching said gaseous product with an inert gas quench fluid;
- (c) recovering said hydrocarbon partial oxidation product from said gaseous product;
- (d) separating unreacted hydrocarbon from the gaseous product;
- and
- (e) recycling the separated unreacted hydrocarbon to said reaction zone.
A process for the production of at least one cyclic anhydride selected from maleic anhydride, phthalic anhydride and mixtures of these comprising:
- (a) contacting in the vapor phase in a reaction zone a hydrocarbon selected from benzene, naphthalene, orthoxylene, four carbon straight-chain hydrocarbons and mixtures of these and oxygen in the presence of an oxidation catalyst under conditions which produce a gaseous product containing said cyclic anhydride;
- (b) quenching said gaseous product with a quench fluid selected from carbon dioxide and nitrogen;
- (c) recovering cyclic anhydride from the quenched gaseous product;
- (d) separating unreacted hydrocarbon from the cyclic anhydride-depleted gaseous product;
- and
- (e) recycling the separated unreacted hydrocarbon to said reaction zone.
A process for the production of an .alpha., .beta.-olefinically unsaturated nitrile having 3 to 4 carbon atoms comprising:
- (a) contacting in the vapor phase in a reaction zone a hydrocarbon selected from propylene, propane, isobutylene, isobutane and mixtures of these, ammonia and oxygen in the presence of an oxidation catalyst under conditions which produce a gaseous product containing said nitrile;
- (b) quenching said gaseous product with a quench fluid selected from carbon dioxide and nitrogen;
- (c) recovering said nitrile from the quenched gaseous product;
- (d) separating unreacted hydrocarbon from the nitrile-depleted gaseous product;
- and
- (e) recycling the separated unreacted hydrocarbon to said reaction zone.
A process for the production of an alkylene oxide having 2 to 3 carbon atoms comprising:
- (a) contacting in the vapor phase in a reaction zone a hydrocarbon selected from ethylene, ethane, propylene, propane and mixtures thereof and oxygen in the presence of an oxidation catalyst under conditions which produce a gaseous product containing said alkylene oxide;
- (b) quenching said gaseous product with a quench fluid selected from carbon dioxide and nitrogen;
- (c) recovering said alkylene oxide from the quenched gaseous product;
- (d) separating unreacted hydrocarbon from the alkylene oxide-depleted gaseous product;
- and
- (e) recycling the separated unreacted hydrocarbon to said reaction zone.
A process for the production of a chlorinated hydrocarbon containing two carbon atoms comprising:
- (a) contacting in the vapor phase in a reaction zone a hydrocarbon selected from ethylene, ethane, propylene, propane and mixtures thereof, hydrogen chloride and oxygen in the presence of an oxidation catalyst under conditions which produce a gaseous product containing said chlorinated hydrocarbon;
- (b) quenching said gaseous product with a quench fluid selected from carbon dioxide and nitrogen;
- (c) recovering said chlorinated hydrocarbon from the quenched gaseous product;
- (d) separating unreacted hydrocarbon from the chlorinated hydrocarbon-depleted gaseous product;
- and
- (e) recycling the separated unreacted hydrocarbon to said reaction zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.