MY106856A - Process for the preparation of cumene and ethyl benzene - Google Patents

Abstract

CUMENE IS PRODUCED IN A CATALYST BED UNDER 25.33 KPA TO 5066.25 KPA OF PRESSURE AND AT TEMPERATURES IN THE RANGE OF 50?C TO 500?C, USING AS THE CATALYST A MOLE SIEVE CHARACTERIZED AS ACIDIC BY FEEDING PROLYLENE TO THE CATALYST BED WHILE BENZENE IS CONVENIENTLY ADDED THROUGH THE REFLUX TO RESULT IN A MOLAR EXCESS PRESENT IN THE REACTOR TO THAT REQUIRED TO REACT WITH PROPYLENE, THEREBY REACTING SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE PROPYLENE AND RECOVERING BENZENE AS THE PRINCIPAL OVERHEAD AND CUMENE AND DIISOPROPYL BENZENE IN THE BOTTOMS. THE BOTTOMS ARE FRACTIONATED, THE CUMENE RECOVERED AND THE BOTTOMS ARE CONTACTED WITH BENZENE IN THE LIQUID PHASE IN A FIXED BED STRAIGHT PASS REACTOR UNDER CONDITIONS TO TRANSALKYLATE THE BENZENE THEREBY CONVERTING MOST OF THE DIISOPROPYL BENZENE TO CUMENE WHICH IS AGAIN SEPARATED AND RECOVERED. ETHYL BENZENE IS PRODUCED IN A CATALYST BED UNDER 25.33 TO 5066.25 KPA OF PRESSURE AND AT TEMPERATURES IN THE RANGE OF 50?C TO 300?C, USING AS THE CATALYST A MOLE SIEVE CHARACTERIZED AS ACIDIC BY FEEDING ETHYLENE TO THE CATALYST BED WHILE BENZENE IS CONVENIENTLY ADDED THROUGH THE REFLUX TO RESULT IN A MOLAR EXCESS PRESENT IN THE REACTOR TO THAT REQUIRED TO REACT WITH ETHYLENE, THEREBY REACTING SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE ETHYLENE AND RECOVERING BENZENE AS THE PRINCIPAL OVERHEAD AND ETHYL BENZENE AND DIETHYL BENZENE IN THE BOTTOMS. THE BOTTOMS ARE FRACTIONATED, THE ETHYL BENZENE RECOVERED AND THE BOTTOMS ARE CONTACTED WITH BENZENE IN THE LIQUID PHASE IN A FIXED BED STRAIGHT PASS REACTOR UNDER CONDITIONS TO TRANSALKYLATE THE BENZENE THEREBY CONVERTING MOST OF THE DIETHYL BENZENE TO ETHYL BENZENE WHICH IS AGAIN SEPARATED AND RECOVERED.