Alkene separation process
AssigneeBP Chemicals Limited
InventorAndrew Richard Lucy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for the oxidation of a C2 to C4 alkane to produce the corresponding alkene and carboxylic acid which process comprises separation of the alkene from a mixture of the alkene, the alkane and oxygen by absorption in a metallic salt solution, and recovery of an alkene-rich stream from the metallic salt solution. Integrated processes for the production of alkyl carboxylate and alkenyl carboxylate, which processes comprise oxidation of a C2 to C4 alkane to produce the corresponding alkene and carboxylic acid, separation of the alkene from a mixture of the alkene, the alkane and oxygen by absorption in a metallic salt solution, and recovery of an alkene-rich stream from the metallic salt solution for use in production of alkyl carboxylate or alkenyl carboxylate.
Claims45
A process for the oxidation of a C2 to C4 alkane to produce the corresponding alkene and carboxylic acid which process comprises the steps:
- (a) contacting in an oxidation reaction zone, an alkane, molecular oxygen-containing gas, optionally the corresponding alkene and optionally water, in the presence of at least one catalyst active for the oxidation of the alkane to the corresponding alkene and carboxylic acid, to produce a first product stream comprising alkene, carboxylic acid, alkane, oxygen and water;
- (b) separating in a first separation means at least a portion of the first product stream into a gaseous stream comprising alkene, alkane and oxygen and a liquid stream comprising carboxylic acid;
- (c) contacting said gaseous stream with a solution of a metallic salt capable of selectively chemically absorbing the alkene to produce a chemically absorbed alkene-rich liquid stream;
- and
- (d) recovering an alkene-rich stream from the metallic salt solution.
An integrated process for the production of an alkyl carboxylate which process comprises the steps:
- (a) contacting in an oxidation reaction zone, an alkane, molecular oxygen-containing gas, optionally the corresponding alkene and optionally water, in the presence of at least one catalyst active for the oxidation of the alkane to the corresponding alkene and carboxylic acid, to produce a first non-flammable product stream comprising alkene, carboxylic acid, alkane, oxygen and water;
- (b) separating in a first separation means at least a portion of the first product stream into a gaseous stream comprising alkene, alkane and oxygen and a liquid stream comprising carboxylic acid;
- (c) contacting at least a portion of said gaseous stream with a solution of a metallic salt capable of selectively chemically absorbing the alkene to produce a chemically absorbed alkene-rich liquid stream;
- (d) recovering an alkene-rich stream from the metallic salt solution;
- and
- (e) contacting in a second reaction zone at least a portion of said alkene-rich stream from step (d), and a carboxylic acid, in the presence of at least one catalyst active for the production of alkyl carboxylate to produce said alkyl carboxylate.
An integrated process for the production of an alkenyl carboxylate which process comprises the steps:
- (a) contacting in an oxidation reaction zone, an alkane, molecular oxygen-containing gas, optionally the corresponding alkene and optionally water, in the presence of at least one catalyst active for the oxidation of the alkane to the corresponding alkene and carboxylic acid, to produce a first non-flammable product stream comprising alkene, carboxylic acid, alkane, oxygen and water;
- (b) separating in a first separation means at least a portion of the first product stream into a gaseous stream comprising alkene, alkane and oxygen and a liquid stream comprising carboxylic acid;
- (c) contacting at least a portion of said gaseous stream with a solution of a metallic salt capable of selectively chemically absorbing the alkene to produce a chemically absorbed alkene-rich liquid stream;
- (d) recovering an alkene-rich stream from the metallic salt solution;
- and
- (e) contacting in a second reaction zone at least a portion of said alkene-rich stream obtained in step (d), a carboxylic acid and a molecular oxygen-containing gas, in the presence of at least one catalyst active for the production of alkenyl carboxylate to produce said alkenyl carboxylate.
Art integrated process for the production of vinyl acetate which process comprises the steps:
- (a) contacting in an oxidation reaction zone, ethane, molecular oxygen-containing gas, optionally ethylene and optionally water, in the presence of at least one catalyst active for the oxidation of ethane to ethylene and acetic acid, to produce a first non-flammable product stream comprising ethylene, acetic acid, ethane, oxygen and water;
- (b) separating in a first separation means at least a portion of the first product stream into a gaseous stream comprising ethylene, ethane and oxygen and a liquid stream comprising acetic acid;
- (c) contacting at least a portion of said gaseous stream with a solution or a metallic salt capable of selectively chemically absorbing ethylene to produce a chemically absorbed ethylene-rich liquid stream;
- (d) recovering an ethylene-rich stream from the metallic salt solution;
- and
- (e) contacting in a second reaction zone at least a portion of said ethylene-rich stream obtained in step (d), acetic acid and a molecular oxygen-containing gas, in the presence of at least one catalyst active for the production of vinyl acetate to produce vinyl acetate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.