Multi-purpose catalytic distillation column
AssigneeChemical Research & Licensing Company
InventorsThomas P. Hickey, John R. Adams
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Abstract
A multi-purpose distillation column reactor is disclosed which may be used for the production of tertiary amyl methyl ether from the reaction of the isoamylenes contained in a light naphtha with methanol. Two reaction distillation zones are disposed above a stripping section. The stripping, in addition to removing the TAME product, also removes the C.sub.6 and heavier components. The first reaction distillation zone contains a hydrotreating catalyst for removing diolefins and mercaptans. The second distillation reaction zone contains an acid cation exchange resin for the etherification reaction and the entire column serves to fractionate the multiple component reaction system (reacts, inerts, products and contaminants) concurrently with the multiple reactions.
Claims4
A distillation column reactor comprising:
- (a) a vertical cylindrical vessel;
- (b) inert distillation structure disposed within the lower end of said vessel;
- (c) a first distillation reaction zone containing a first catalytic distillation structure disposed within said vessel directly adjacent to and above said inert distillation structure, said first catalytic distillation structure comprising a supported hydrogenation catalyst;
- and
- (d) a second distillation reaction zone containing a second catalytic distillation structure disposed within said vessel adjacent to and above said first distillation reaction zone, said second catalytic distillation structure comprising an etherification catalyst.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.