Optimized liquid-phase oxidation
AssigneeGrupo Petrotemex, S.A. de C.V.
InventorsMarcel de Vreede, Alan George Wonders, Robert Lin
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Abstract
Disclosed is an optimized process and apparatus for more efficiently and economically carrying out the liquid-phase oxidation of an oxidizable compound. Such liquid-phase oxidation is carried out in a bubble column reactor that provides for a highly efficient reaction at relatively low temperatures. When the oxidized compound is para-xylene and the product from the oxidation reaction is crude terephthalic acid (CTA), such CTA product can be purified and separated by more economical techniques than could be employed if the CTA were formed by a conventional high-temperature oxidation process.
Claims22
A process for producing terephthalic acid, said process comprising:
- oxidizing paraxylene in a liquid phase of a multi-phase reaction medium contained in a bubble column reactor, wherein the pressure differential between the top and bottom of said reaction medium is at least 1 bar, wherein the time-averaged superficial velocity of said reaction medium at half height is maintained in the range of from about 0.8 to about 5 meters per second;
- wherein said reaction medium has a maximum width (W), wherein said bubble column comprises a disengagement zone that has a maximum width (X), and wherein said bubble column reactor has an X:W ratio in the range of from about 0.8:1 to about 4:1.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.