Regenerant recycle process for oxygenate removal
OwnerVincent A. Muoio, Richard Carusoinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) plant n-butane is used to regenerate a molecular sieve adsorption bed of an oxygen removal unit, and contaminated n-butane is purified by distillation and recycled for further regeneration. The requirement for n-butane is thus reduced and little or no contaminated n-butane need be diverted for use as fuel gas.
Claims18
A process for recycling regenerant contaminated with oxygenates during regeneration of an oxygen removal unit of an MTBE plant, comprising:
- providing said regenerant consisting essentially of n-butane in a regenerant stream independent of any MTBE process stream;
- directing said regenerant to a distilling unit;
- distilling said regenerant in said distilling unit to remove at least some of said oxygenates;
- and
- returning at least some of said regenerant to said oxygen removal unit.
An MTBE plant comprising:
- a feed stream;
- an MTBE process unit which converts at least part of the feed stream into MTBE, C.sub.4 raffinate and oxygenates;
- an oxygen removal unit containing a molecular adsorption sieve for separating said raffinate from said oxygenates;
- an n-butane regenerant stream which is substantially independent of the feed stream, and contains a regenerant which becomes contaminated with said oxygenates in regenerating said adsorption sieve;
- and
- a distilling apparatus whereby said oxygenates are separated from said contaminated regenerant to produce substantially decontaminated regenerant.
An improved MTBE plant producing C.sub.4 raffinate and oxygenates as by-products, said plant having an oxygen removal unit containing a molecular adsorption sieve for separating said raffinate from said oxygenates, and a regenerant used primarily to regenerate the molecular sieve and thereby becoming contaminated with said oxygenates said improvement comprising:
- said regenerant consisting essentially of n-butane;
- a distilling apparatus whereby said oxygenates are separated from said contaminated regenerant;
- and
- at least 80% by weight of said decontaminated regenerant is recycled to said oxygen removal unit.
The MTBE plant of claim 11 wherein at least 90% by weight of said decontaminated regenerant is recycled to said oxygen removal unit.
An MTBE plant comprising:
- an oxygen removal unit containing a molecular adsorption sieve;
- an n-butane regenerant for regenerating said molecular adsorption sieve;
- means for decontaminating and recycling said regenerant whereby usage of fresh said regenerant is reduced by at least 80% by weight over usage of said regenerant which is non-recycled.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.