GB757484A - Improved method and apparatus for the reduction of fatty materials by hydrogenation - Google Patents

Abstract

<FORM:0757484/IV(a)/1> High pressure hydrogenation of fatty materials in the presence of a catalyst to form higher molecular alcohols, is carried out by leading the material to be hydrogenated continuously through reaction zone 22, passing hydrogen in excess through the material in the reaction zone, separating in partial condenser 26 excess hydrogen and volatile hydrogenated products from the hydrogenated material which is continuously removed at 27, the volatile products being separated from hydrogen in condenser 29, the excess hydrogen being returned to the reaction zone while still under hydrogenation pressure, and the hydrogen flowing through the reaction zone being preheated by heat exchange with the hydrogenated products. A mixture of coconut oil fatty acids is introduced at 23, passes through heater 24, mixes with a slurry of copper chromite catalyst in fatty material entering at 25, and is treated with hydrogen at 200 atmospheres pressure introduced via line 20 and heater 21. The reactor 22 has concentric tubes 22a, 22b which provide a long and constricted passage for the reactants and preheat the hydrogen. The condensed volatile product from condenser 29 collects in receiver 30 and is continuously removed to vessel 38a through valve 33 controlled according to the liquid level in receiver 30. Hydrogenated liquid fatty material flows from line 27 through cooler 34 to receiver 35 and thence to discharge tank 38 through valve 37a controlled by the level in receiver 35; the liquid product from tank 38 is filtered at 43 to remove catalyst. Two or more reaction vessel mays be used in series. In an alternative apparatus, Fig. 2 (not shown), the condenser 26 is replaced by a heat-exchanging partial condenser separate from the reaction zone; in this condenser the hydrogen is brought into indirect heat exchange with the product leaving the reaction zone; the feed may also pass in heat exchange relationship with the hydrogenated product. Other materials which may be hydrogenated with the formation of alcohols are palm kernel oil, spermaceti, sperm oil, beeswax, linseed oil, cottonseed oil, tallow, stearin, olein, colophony, carboxylic acids derived therefrom, naphthenic acids, petroleum derivatives, or fractions from the Fischer Tropsch process. Double bonds in the raw material may or may not be hydrogenated.ALSO:High pressure hydrogenation of fatty materials in the presence of a catalyst, e.g. to form higher molecular alcohols, is carried out by leading the material to be hydrogenated continuously through reaction zone 22, passing hydrogen in excess through the material in the reaction zone, separating in partial condenser 26 excess hydrogen and volatile hydrogenated products from the hydrogenated material <PICT:0757484/III/1> which is continuously removed at 27, the volatile products being separated from hydrogen in condenser 29, the excess hydrogen being returned to the reaction zone while still under hydrogenation pressure, and the hydrogen flowing through the reaction zone being preheated by heat exchange with the hydrogenated products. A mixture of coconut oil fatty acids is introduced at 23, passes through heater 24, mixes with a slurry of copper chromite catalyst in fatty material entering at 25, and is treated with hydrogen at 200 atmospheres pressure introduced via line 20 and heater 21. The reactor 22 has concentric tubes 22a, 22b which provide a long and constricted passage for the reactants and preheat the hydrogen. The condensed volatile product from condenser 29 collects in receiver 30 and is continuously removed to vessel 38a through valve 33 controlled according to the liquid level in receiver 30. Hydrogenated liquid fatty material flows from line 27 through cooler 34 to receiver 35 and thence to discharge tank 38 through valve 37a controlled by the level in receiver 35; the liquid product from tank 38 is filtered at 43 to remove catalyst. Two or more reaction vessels may be used in series. In an alternative apparatus (Fig. 2, not shown), the condenser 26 is replaced by a heat exchanging partial condenser separate from the reaction zone; in this condenser the hydrogen is brought into indirect heat exchange with the product leaving the reaction zone; the feed may also pass in heat exchange relationship with the hydrogenated product. Other materials which may be hydrogenated with the formation of alcohols are palm kernel oil, spermaceti, sperm oil, beeswax, linseed oil, cottonseed oil, tallow, stearin, olein, colophony, carboxylic acids derived therefrom, naphthenic acids, petroleum derivatives, or fractions from the Fischer-Tropsche process. Double bonds in the raw material may or may not be hydrogenated.