Process for the production of ethanol and isopropanol
AssigneeThe BOC Group, Inc.
InventorsRamakrishnan Ramachandran, Loc H. Dao
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An ethene stream which contains ethane as an impurity or a propene stream which contains propane as an impurity is hydrated with water vapor in the presence of a hydration catalyst to produce ethanol or isopropanol, respectively. After removal of the alcohol the gaseous product stream is subjected to adsorption, thereby producing an ethene-enriched stream or a propene-enriched stream. The ethene-enriched stream or the propene-enriched stream is recycled to the hydration reactor.
Claims15
A process for the production of ethanol comprising the steps:
- (a) contacting an ethene-ethane mixture and water with a hydration catalyst in a reaction zone under conditions which result in the production of a gaseous product containing ethanol, unreacted ethene and ethane;
- (b) recovering said ethanol from said gaseous product;
- (c) selectively adsorbing ethene from the substantially ethanol-free gaseous product by passing at least part of the substantially ethanol-free gaseous product through an adsorption zone containing 4A zeolite adsorbent at a temperature above about 50.degree. C.;
- (d) regenerating said adsorbent, thereby producing an ethene-enriched gas stream;
- and
- (e) recycling said ethene-enriched gas stream to said reaction zone.
A process for the production of ethanol comprising the steps:
- (a) selectively adsorbing ethene from a ethene-ethane gas mixture by passing said gas mixture through an adsorption zone containing 4A zeolite adsorbent at a temperature above about 50.degree. C.;
- (b) regenerating said adsorbent, thereby producing ethene-enriched gas;
- (c) contacting said ethene-enriched gas with water vapor in the presence of a hydration catalyst in a reaction zone under conditions which result in the production of a gaseous product containing ethanol, unreacted ethene and ethane;
- (d) recovering the ethanol from said gaseous product;
- and
- (e) recycling part or all of the substantially ethanol-free gaseous product to said adsorption zone.
A process for the production of isopropanol comprising the steps:
- (a) contacting a propene-propane mixture and water with a hydration catalyst in a reaction zone under conditions which result in the production of a gaseous product containing isopropanol, unreacted propene and propane;
- (b) recovering said isopropanol from said gaseous product;
- (c) selectively adsorbing propene from the substantially isopropanol-free gaseous product by passing at least part of the substantially isopropanol-free gaseous product through an adsorption zone containing 4A zeolite adsorbent at a temperature above about 50.degree. C.;
- (d) regenerating said adsorbent, thereby producing a propene-enriched gas stream;
- and
- (e) recycling said propene-enriched gas stream to said reaction zone.
A process for the production of isopropanol comprising the steps:
- (a) selectively adsorbing propene from a propene-propane gas mixture by passing said gas mixture through 4A zeolite adsorbent at a temperature above about 50.degree. C.;
- (b) regenerating said adsorbent, thereby producing propene-enriched gas;
- (c) contacting said propene-enriched gas with water vapor in the presence of a hydration catalyst in a reaction zone under conditions which result in the production of a gaseous product containing isopropanol, unreacted propene and propane;
- (d) recovering the isopropanol from said gaseous product;
- and
- (e) recycling part or all of the substantially isopropanol-free gaseous product to said adsorption zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.