Process for starting up an olefin hydration reactor

A method for controlling the start up exotherm of an adibatic fixed bed propylene hydration and etherification reactor containing shape selective metallosilicate catalyst particles for the production of isopropanol and diisopropyl ether, said method consisting essentially of the following sequential steps:

• a) contacting a feedstream comprising propane vapor with said particles in said reactor;
• b) increasing the pressure of said reactor above the liquification pressure of said vapor and passing liquid propane into said reactor;
• c) introducing a feedstream comprising isopropanol into said reactor to displace step (b) liquid propane;
• d) introducing a feedstream comprising propylene into said reactor containing said isopropanol;
• e) introducing a feedstream comprising water into said reactor under etherification and hydration reaction conditions comprising temperature between 200.degree.-360.degree. F. (93.degree.-182.degree. C.), pressure of from about 100 (700 kPa) to about 3500 psi (24,500 kPa) and a water to olefin mole ratio of from about 0.05 to about 30 whereby diisopropyl ether and isopropanol are produced.

In the process for the liquid phase production of isopropanol and diisopropyl ether comprising contacting an adibatic fixed bed of shape selective zeolite catalyst particles in a reactor with a feedstream containing propylene and water under propylene hydration and etherification conditions, the improvement comprising:

• initiating said process by introducing a feedstream comprising propane vapor into said reactor;
• then
• increasing the pressure of said reactor above the liquification pressure of said vapor and passing liquid propane into said reactor;
• next,
• displacing said liquid propane with a feedstream comprising isopropanol;
• then
• introducing a feedstream comprising propylene into said reactor containing said isopropanol;
• then
• introducing a feedstream comprising water into said reactor under said etherification and hydration reaction conditions whereby said diisopropyl ether and isopropanol are produced.

A process for starting up a fixed bed reactor containing shape selective metallosilicate catalyst particles for liquid phase hydration and etherification of propylene to produce isopropanol and diisopropyl ether, comprising in sequence:

• a) introducing into said reactor a vapor feedstream comprising C.sub.3 -C.sub.10 paraffinic hydrocarbon in contact with said particles;
• b) increasing the pressure of said reactor above the liquefication pressure of said vapor and passing liquid C.sub.3 -C.sub.10 paraffinic hydrocarbon into said reactor;
• c) displacing said liquid hydrocarbon from step (b) reactor with a feedstream comprising isopropanol;
• d) introducing a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising propylene into step (c) reactor containing said isopropanol;
• e) introducing a feedstream comprising water into step (d) reactor containing said propylene under etherification and/or hydration reaction conditions.