Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07B—GENERAL METHODS OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY; APPARATUS THEREFOR
  • C07B41/00—Formation or introduction of functional groups containing oxygen
  • C07B41/12—Formation or introduction of functional groups containing oxygen of carboxylic acid ester groups
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D15/00—Separating processes involving the treatment of liquids with solid sorbents; Apparatus therefor
  • B01D15/08—Selective adsorption, e.g. chromatography
  • B01D15/26—Selective adsorption, e.g. chromatography characterised by the separation mechanism
  • B01D15/36—Selective adsorption, e.g. chromatography characterised by the separation mechanism involving ionic interaction, e.g. ion-exchange, ion-pair, ion-suppression or ion-exclusion
  • B01D15/361—Ion-exchange
  • B01D15/363—Anion-exchange
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D15/00—Separating processes involving the treatment of liquids with solid sorbents; Apparatus therefor
  • B01D15/08—Selective adsorption, e.g. chromatography
  • B01D15/10—Selective adsorption, e.g. chromatography characterised by constructional or operational features
  • B01D15/18—Selective adsorption, e.g. chromatography characterised by constructional or operational features relating to flow patterns
  • B01D15/1814—Recycling of the fraction to be distributed
  • B01D15/1821—Simulated moving beds
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D15/00—Separating processes involving the treatment of liquids with solid sorbents; Apparatus therefor
  • B01D15/08—Selective adsorption, e.g. chromatography
  • B01D15/10—Selective adsorption, e.g. chromatography characterised by constructional or operational features
  • B01D15/18—Selective adsorption, e.g. chromatography characterised by constructional or operational features relating to flow patterns
  • B01D15/1814—Recycling of the fraction to be distributed
  • B01D15/1857—Reactive simulated moving beds
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D15/00—Separating processes involving the treatment of liquids with solid sorbents; Apparatus therefor
  • B01D15/08—Selective adsorption, e.g. chromatography
  • B01D15/26—Selective adsorption, e.g. chromatography characterised by the separation mechanism
  • B01D15/38—Selective adsorption, e.g. chromatography characterised by the separation mechanism involving specific interaction not covered by one or more of groups B01D15/265 and B01D15/30 - B01D15/36, e.g. affinity, ligand exchange or chiral chromatography
  • B01D15/3857—Reaction chromatography
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07B—GENERAL METHODS OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY; APPARATUS THEREFOR
  • C07B41/00—Formation or introduction of functional groups containing oxygen
  • C07B41/02—Formation or introduction of functional groups containing oxygen of hydroxy or O-metal groups
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07C—ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
  • C07C29/00—Preparation of compounds having hydroxy or O-metal groups bound to a carbon atom not belonging to a six-membered aromatic ring
  • C07C29/128—Preparation of compounds having hydroxy or O-metal groups bound to a carbon atom not belonging to a six-membered aromatic ring by alcoholysis
  • C07C29/1285—Preparation of compounds having hydroxy or O-metal groups bound to a carbon atom not belonging to a six-membered aromatic ring by alcoholysis of esters of organic acids
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07C—ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
  • C07C67/00—Preparation of carboxylic acid esters
  • C07C67/03—Preparation of carboxylic acid esters by reacting an ester group with a hydroxy group
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
  • Y02P20/00—Technologies relating to chemical industry
  • Y02P20/10—Process efficiency

Definitions

• the present disclosure relates generally to a process for an equilibrium limited reaction of a first organic donor reactant (FODR) with a second organic acceptor reactant (SOAR) to form a first acceptor product (FAP) and a second donor co-product (SDCP) without producing water as a reaction product.
• FODR organic donor reactant
• SOAR organic acceptor reactant
• SDCP second donor co-product
• Reactions of this type include transesterification of hydroxy compounds with esters to form a new ester plus co-product alcohol, and amidation of amines with esters to form amides plus co-product alcohol.
• the acylating agent replaces the hydrogen atom of the alcohol hydroxyl group with an acetate group.
• Reactions similar to acylation include transamidation of amines with amides and transamination of ketones with amines.
• Alkyl acetates such as methyl acetate and ethyl acetate, are commonly used acylating agents used to add an acetate functional group to organic compounds containing a hydroxyl group such as, for example, glycol ethers.
• This reaction of methyl acetate or ethyl acetate with the glycol ether is also known as transesterification.
• Transesterification is a reaction between an ester of one alcohol and a second alcohol to form an ester of the second alcohol and an alcohol from the original ester.
• the transesterification of methyl acetate, an ester of methanol is of particular interest due to its relative abundance as a side product from the production of polyvinyl alcohol.
• the present disclosure provides for a process for an equilibrium limited reaction of a first organic donor reactant (FODR) with a second organic acceptor reactant (SOAR) to form a first acceptor product (FAP) and a second donor co-product (SDCP) without producing water as a reaction product.
• FODR organic donor reactant
• SOAR organic acceptor reactant
• SDCP second donor co-product
• the process allows for an equilibrium limited reaction of a SOAR with a FODR at a predetermined temperature to form the FAP and the SDCP at commercially attractive conversion levels.
• the process includes supplying the FODR and the SOAR to a reactive chromatography unit (RCU) to create a reaction mixture, where the FODR is in a stoichiometric deficit relative to the SOAR for the equilibrium limited reaction.
• the RCU has separation media to separate a product mixture of the FAP and the SDCP.
• the FODR in the stoichiometric deficit relative to the SOAR in the reaction mixture reacts at the predetermined temperature in the RCU to form the product mixture that includes the FAP and the SDCP via the equilibrium limited reaction.
• the product mixture is separated into a raffmate that includes the FAP and an extract that contains the SDCP.
• the equilibrium- limited reaction is a reversible reaction having an equilibrium conversion value (X e ) for the predetermined temperature.
• the SOAR acts as an eluent for both the raffinate and the extract of the RCU (e.g., both the raffinate and the extract include SOAR).
• the RCU can be operated in such a manner, as discussed herein, that a single pass conversion of the FODR is from 70 percent (%) to 99 %. As this conversion of the FODR is less than 100%, there will be residual unreacted FODR in the product mixture.
• the raffinate includes the residual unreacted FODR, the SOAR and the FAP, while the extract includes the SOAR and the SDCP.
• the raffinate can be further separated into a FAP product fraction and a recycle fraction, where the recycle fraction contains the SOAR, the residual unreacted FODR, and a FAP cut.
• the recycle fraction is returned to the RCU for the equilibrium limited reaction.
• the extract can also be separated into at least a SOAR fraction and a SDCP fraction.
• the SOAR fraction can be returned to the RCU for the equilibrium limited reaction with the FODR.
• the embodiments of the present disclosure can be used for acylation reactions, such as a transesterification reaction.
• the present disclosure includes the process in which the FODR is an acetate ester and the SOAR is a hydroxy containing organic compound (HCOC) that reacts with the acetate ester to form an organic acetate (OA) and an alcohol co-product (AC) during the equilibrium limited reaction.
• the acetate ester is in the stoichiometric deficit relative to the HCOC in the RCU that contains a catalyst for the equilibrium limited reaction and the separation media to separate the OA and the AC.
• the raffinate separated with the separation media contains at least the OA and residual unreacted acetate ester, and the extract separated with the separation media contains at least the AC.
• Other examples of equilibrium limited reactions include transamination reactions and transamidation reactions.
• the RCU is a simulated-moving bed unit.
• Fig. 1 illustrates ethyl acetate conversion during a transesterification reaction catalyzed via strong acid cation exchange resin (column testing) (Ex. 1).
• Fig. 2 illustrates ethyl acetate conversion during a transesterification reaction catalyzed via strong acid cation exchange resin (batch testing) (Comp. Ex. A).
• Fig. 3 illustrates ethyl acetate conversion during a transesterification reaction catalyzed via strong base anion exchange resin (batch testing) (Comp. Ex. B)
• the present disclosure provides a process for conducting an equilibrium-limited reaction that can avoid separation difficulties seen in reactive distillation based processes (e.g., the formation of an azeotrope that can impact product and/or byproduct removal and thereby limit potential improvements to the equilibrium-limited conversion).
• the process is for the equilibrium limited reaction of a first organic donor reactant (FODR) with a second organic acceptor reactant (SOAR) to form a first acceptor product (FAP) and a second donor co-product (SDCP) without producing water as a reaction product.
• FODR organic donor reactant
• SOAR second organic acceptor reactant
• SDCP second donor co-product
• the process of the present disclosure uses reactive chromatography for both the equilibrium-limited reaction and the separation of the products, which produces a conversion value for the equilibrium limited reaction that is greater than the equilibrium conversion value for a given predetermined temperature.
• the process allows for the equilibrium limited reaction of the SOAR with the FODR at the predetermined temperature to form the FAP and the SDCP at commercially attractive conversion levels.
• the equilibrium- limited reaction is a reversible reaction having an equilibrium conversion value (X e ) for the predetermined temperature.
• the process includes supplying the FODR and the SOAR to a reactive chromatography unit (RCU) to create a reaction mixture, where the FODR is in a stoichiometric deficit relative to the SOAR for the equilibrium limited reaction.
• the RCU of the present disclosure is a constant volume system.
• the RCU has separation media to separate a product mixture of the FAP and the SDCP.
• the FODR in the stoichiometric deficit relative to the SOAR in the reaction mixture reacts at the predetermined temperature in the RCU to form the product mixture that includes the FAP and the SDCP via the equilibrium limited reaction.
• the product mixture is separated into a raffmate that includes the FAP and an extract that contains the SDCP. Separating the product mixture produces a conversion value for the equilibrium limited reaction that is greater than the equilibrium conversion value for the predetermined temperature. So, the present disclosure helps to achieve a conversion that is greater than the equilibrium conversion value by separating and removing the reaction products, thereby driving the conversion of the reactants.
• the SOAR acts as an eluent for both the raffinate and the extract of the RCU (e.g., both the raffinate and the extract can include SOAR).
• the RCU can be operated in such a manner that a single pass conversion of the FODR is from 70 percent (%) to 99 %. As this conversion of the FODR is less than 100%, there will be residual unreacted FODR in the product mixture.
• the raffinate includes the residual unreacted FODR, the SOAR and the FAP, while the extract includes the SOAR and the SDCP. An azeotrope of the SDCP and the residual unreacted FODR is avoided; however, as the SDCP is present in the extract while the residual unreacted FODR is present in the raffinate.
• the process of the present disclosure uses a reactive chromatography unit (RCU) for the equilibrium limited reaction of the FODR with the SOAR in the reaction mixture to form the FAP and the SDCP in the product mixture.
• RCU reactive chromatography unit
• the RCU allows for the equilibrium limited reaction of the FODR and the SOAR in the reaction mixture and the separation of the FAP and the SDCP in the product mixture to drive the conversion of the equilibrium-limited reaction.
• the separation of the residual unreacted FODR in the raffinate from the SDCP in the extract by the RCU helps the process avoid the formation of an azeotrope in the reaction products emerging from the RCU.
• the organic donor reactant is an organic compound containing a functional group that during the equilibrium reaction leaves that compound and transfers to become part of an acceptor compound.
• An example is the donation and transfer of an acetate group from an organic donor reactant to an acceptor compound which then contains the acetate group.
• Other examples of organic donor compounds include compounds with amine groups and compounds with amide groups.
• the process of the present disclosure includes supplying to the RCU the FODR and the
• the SOAR to create the reaction mixture, where the FODR is in a stoichiometric deficit relative to the SOAR for the equilibrium limited reaction.
• the FODR in the stoichiometric deficit relative to the SOAR reacts at a predetermined temperature in the RCU to form a product mixture comprising the FAP and the SDCP via the equilibrium-limited reaction.
• the RCU has separation media to separate the product mixture (e.g., the FAP and the SDCP) into one of two streams: a raffinate and an extract.
• the SOAR supplied to the RCU is in a stoichiometric excess relative to the FODR.
• the SOAR in addition to being a reactant in the equilibrium-limited reaction also acts as the eluent or desorbent (the chromatography elution solvent or mobile phase) for the extract and the raffinate of the RCU.
• the FODR supplied to the RCU is in the stoichiometric deficit relative to the SOAR, the FODR in the RCU reacts at a predetermined temperature to form the FAP and the SDCP via the equilibrium-limited reaction.
• the raffinate includes the residual unreacted FODR, the SOAR and the FAP, while the extract includes the SOAR and the SDCP.
• the raffinate can be further separated into a FAP product fraction and a recycle fraction, where the recycle fraction contains the SOAR, the residual unreacted FODR, and a FAP cut.
• the recycle fraction is returned to the RCU for the equilibrium limited reaction.
• the extract can also be separated into at least a SOAR fraction and a SDCP fraction.
• the SOAR fraction can be returned to the RCU for the equilibrium limited reaction with the FODR.
• the result is the process of the present disclosure which greatly simplifies the equilibrium-limited reaction process compared to reactive distillation processes, which can have difficulty stripping the SDCP to drive conversion without also taking some of the FODR overhead, thus requiring an additional unit operation to separate the resulting azeotropic mixture of FODR and SDCP.
• the FODR in the stoichiometric deficit relative to the SOAR in the RCU can react towards extinction in a single pass of the reactants through the RCU.
• the FODR in the stoichiometric deficit relative to the SOAR in the RCU can react essentially to extinction (e.g., essentially 100 % conversion of the FODR) in a single pass of the reactants through the RCU.
• the process of the present disclosure can avoid the need to separate the FODR from the SDCP, in particular avoiding the difficulties involved in separating an azeotrope that can form from mixtures of the FODR and the SDCP.
• the SOAR is in a stoichiometric deficit relative to the FODR for the equilibrium limited reaction in the RCU.
• Such embodiments can address certain equilibrium-limited reactions that have the potential of forming an azeotrope of either FAP and SOAR or SDCP and SOAR.
• an "equilibrium constant" is an value that expresses the relationship between products and reactants of a reversible reaction at equilibrium at a given temperature with respect to a specific unit.
• an "equilibrium conversion” is the highest conversion (X e ) that can be achieved in a reversible reaction at a given temperature (e.g., an isothermal reaction temperature) for a constant volume system.
• the process of the present disclosure uses the RCU as both a reaction vessel and a chromatography unit.
• the RCU allows for the simultaneous reaction of reactants and separation of products for reversible reactions (e.g., an equilibrium-limited reaction) to obtain enhanced performance.
• RCUs include one or more chromatographic columns packed with a separation media for the reaction products.
• the RCU can also include a catalyst for certain equilibrium-limited reactions discussed herein. Both the catalyst (when present) and the separation media can be present in the RCU as a stationary phase.
• the different reaction products can have different affinities to the stationary phase leading to different migration velocities through the RCU. This leads to the separation of the reaction products, suppression of backward reactions and providing high conversion at the outlet of the RCU.
• the RCU suitable for the present disclosure is a simulated-moving bed unit (SMB).
• SMB unit provides for a continuous and counter-current operation that combines chemical reaction and separation within one single apparatus.
• the SMB unit employs multiple fixed-bed columns (or sections of columns), where each fixed bed column contains a catalyst for the equilibrium limited reaction and separation media to separate the FAP and the SDCP reaction products. Different equilibrium limited reactions may require different number and configurations of the multiple fixed-bed columns. For example, from 4 to 24 fixed-bed columns can be used in forming an SMB unit for the equilibrium limited reactions of the present disclosure.
• the principal inputs and outputs of the SMB unit are the feed, the extract, and the raffmate, where each fixed-bed column includes an input stream and an output stream. Each stream flows into or out of the fixed-bed column of the SMB unit at individual locations and at a particular flow rate which is independently controlled.
• the SMB unit switches input streams and the output streams of liquids from one column to another (or between column sections) to approach the theoretical performance of a true countercurrent solid-liquid flow.
• Switching the input streams and the output streams from one column to another can be accomplished using valves (e.g., rotary valves or a network of two-position or multi-position valves) which work in conjunction with the inlet and outlet lines of the multiple fixed-bed columns.
• the fluid-directing device accomplishes moving the locations of the input and output streams by directing the streams to the appropriate inlet or outlet lines of the multiple fixed-bed columns.
• the liquid flow rates of the feed streams and the step times for the valves of the SMB unit are controlled so that the slow and fast eluting reaction products move in opposite directions relative to the movement or switching of inlet and outlet ports.
• the fixed-bed columns of the SMB unit are configured to provide four zones to provide for the equilibrium-limited reaction and to separate the reaction products into two fractions: the extract, which includes the slow-eluting fraction, and the raffmate, which includes the fast- eluting fraction.
• the four zones of the SMB unit each perform a different function.
• Zone I contains fixed-bed columns between the eluent inlet (e.g., the SOAR) and the extract outlet;
• Zone II contains fixed-bed columns between the extract outlet and the feed inlet (e.g., the FODR);
• Zone III contains fixed-bed columns between the feed inlet (e.g., the FODR) and the raffmate outlet;
• Zone IV contains fixed-bed columns between the raffmate outlet and the eluent inlet (e.g., the SOAR).
• Zones II and III serve to allow the fast and slow components to move farther apart, while Zones I and IV serve to prevent the slow components from falling too far back and the fast components from moving too far forward, respectively.
• the fixed-bed columns of the SMB unit have a catalyst for the equilibrium- limited reaction and separation media to separate the FAP and the SDCP.
• the catalyst and the separation media can be provided on one structure or can be provided on separate structures in the fixed-bed columns of the SMB unit.
• the separation media used in the fixed-bed columns of the RCU can be selected so that the reaction components (e.g., the FODR and the FAP are less strongly adsorbed, while the reaction co-product (e.g., the SDCP) is more strongly adsorbed. This allows for less polar reaction component, e.g. the FAP, to be removed from the SMB unit in the raffmate stream, while more polar reaction component, e.g., the SDCP, to be removed from the SMB unit in the extract stream.
• the process of the present disclosure is for equilibrium-limited reactions that produce non-aqueous reaction products (e.g., an alcohol), and not for reactions that produce water.
• non-aqueous reaction products e.g., an alcohol
• catalysts for equilibrium-limited reactions include, but are not limited to, those for transamination reactions, transamidation reactions, and acylation reactions, such as
• transesterification reactions include, but are not limited to, to acid, base, metal alkoxide, amine, molecular sieves, and enzyme catalysts as provided in Otera, Junzo; "Transesterification", Chem. Rev., 1993, 93, 1449-1470. Depending upon the composition of the feed, several different catalysts may be combined in order to accomplish the catalysis function.
• the process of the present disclosure can use many different types of catalysts and separation media to carry out the equilibrium-limited reaction and separation. It can use either a single solid that can act as both catalyst and separation media, a combination of one or more solid catalysts and separation media, or a homogeneous catalyst with one or more separation media.
• the separation media can be conventional materials used in adsorption-type processes, including but are not limited to polymeric resins, silica, alumina, molecular sieves, activated carbon or other known separation media that can separate at least one of the products of the equilibrium- limited reaction products.
• the preferred solids are those that can function as both catalyst and separation media in a single solid, such as strong acid ion exchange resins. These include but are not limited to a sulfonated ion exchange resin such as AmberlystTM 15,
• AmberlystTM 70, DOWEXTM MONOSPHERETM M-31, or other commercially available strong acid polymeric resins include a strong base anion exchange resin.
• the strong base anion exchange resin can be a copolymer matrix with quaternary ammonium functional groups.
• Examples of such strong base anion exchange resins include DOWEXTM MARATHON A, AMBERLITETM IRA-900, and AMBERLITETM IRA-904, among others.
• the catalyst and the separation media can be present in the SMB unit in a volume ratio (catalys separation media) that ranges from 1 : 100 to 100: 1.
• the catalyst and the separation media can also be present in the SMB unit in a variety of configurations. For example, when present as separate structures the catalyst and the separation media can be present as a uniform mixture throughout the fixed-bed columns of the SMB unit. Alternatively, the catalyst and the separation media can be present in alternating layers of catalyst and separation media along the fixed-bed columns of the SMB unit. The thicknesses and relative positions of the layers can depend upon the equilibrium limited reaction and the products that need to be separated.
• the SOAR and the FODR are supplied to the RCU (e.g., the SMB unit) to create a reaction mixture, where the FODR is in a stoichiometric deficit relative to the SOAR for the equilibrium-limited reaction, and where the RCU has separation media to separate the FAP and the SDCP.
• the process operates continuously, with the SOAR and the FODR being introduced to form the reaction mixture, the equilibrium-limited reaction occurring to form a product mixture that includes the FAP and SDCP, and the FAP and SDCP of the product mixture being separated into the raffmate and the extract.
• the SOAR acts as the eluent (also known as desorbent) in both the raffmate and the extract.
• Suitable examples of supplying the FODR in the stoichiometric deficit relative to the SOAR for the reaction include supplying a stoichiometric ratio of FODR to SOAR (FODR: SOAR) in a range from 1 : 1.1 to 1 : 10.
• supplying the FODR in the stoichiometric deficit relative to the SOAR for the reaction include supplying a stoichiometric ratio of FODR to SOAR
• supplying the FODR in the stoichiometric deficit relative to the SOAR for the reaction include supplying a
• FODR FOAR
• SOAR SOAR
• the feed introduced to the SMB unit contains at least one SOAR and at least one FODR, where the SMB unit is operated at a predetermined pressure and a predetermined temperature suitable for the equilibrium limited reaction.
• Operating conditions will depend upon the catalyst (when present) and the separation media used in the SMB unit.
• Typical predetermined temperatures for the equilibrium limited reactions in the SMB unit can be from 0 °C to 200 °C.
• Typical predetermined pressures for the equilibrium limited reactions in the SMB unit can be from 101 KPa to 2000 KPa. As appreciated by one skilled in the art, other operating
• the operating conditions can be set so that the streams of the reactants that form the reaction mixture (e.g., FODR and SOAR) are in the liquid phase, and all components are in the liquid phase.
• the streams of the reactants that form the reaction mixture e.g., FODR and SOAR
• the separation media of the RCU allow for separation of the product mixture into a raffmate and an extract.
• the raffmate contains at least the FAP, while the extract contains at least the SDCP.
• the SOAR is used as the eluent
• the raffinate and the extract also contains SOAR (e.g., the raffinate includes SOAR and the FAP, and the extract includes SOAR and the SDCP,). Additionally, residual unreacted FODR may elute from the RCU in either the extract or the raffinate stream.
• the RCU in such a manner as to separate the residual unreacted FODR into the raffinate stream to avoid the downstream separation of potential azeotropes between the residual unreacted FODR and SDCP.
• the flow rates in each zone of the SMB (related to both residence time for reaction and separation), the throughput, concentration, temperature can each be modified to achieve proper separation of the correct species into the desired streams.
• undesirable heavy compounds can be present in the raffinate or the extract, where the heavy compounds were present in the feed or were produced as undesired by-products of the equilibrium limited reaction (e.g., an acylation reaction).
• the RCU is operated in such a manner as to enable high overall conversion of FODR and SOAR to FAP and SDCP without requiring a single high conversion (e.g., greater than 90 % conversion of the FODR) through the RCU itself.
• a single high conversion e.g., greater than 90 % conversion of the FODR
• the overall consumption of SOAR as the elution solvent can be reduced. This can be accomplished through the strategy described herein in which the SOAR fraction from the extract and the recycle fraction from the raffinate are recycled back to the RCU.
• the flow rates in each zone of the SMB (related to both residence time for reaction and separation), the throughput, concentration, temperature can each be modified to achieve a desired single -pass conversion that is lower than the highest possible value.
• the SOAR excess e.g., the eluent
• the optimum single-pass conversion may range from 70 to 99% conversion (on the FODR limiting reagent basis) to enable reduced eluent requirements while achieving high overall conversions approaching 100%.
• the raffinate can undergo a separation process to separate the raffinate into a FAP product fraction and a recycle fraction, where the recycle fraction contains the majority of the SOAR, a FAP cut and residual unreacted FODR.
• the recycle fraction can be returned to the RCU (e.g., the SMB unit), while the FAP cut is collected as a product.
• the recycle fraction can be returned to the feed of the RCU.
• the recycle fraction can be returned to a location within the RCU where the molar compositions of the SOAR, the FODR, and the FAP in the recycle fraction have similar values to the molar concentrations of the SOAR, the FODR and the FAP in the RCU (e.g., a point of similar concentration in the chromatography cycle of the SMB unit).
• Suitable separation process for the raffinate include, but are not limited to, distillation processes, as are known, that can form the FAP product fraction and a recycle fraction.
• distillation process examples include continuous distillation processes, including those that use a dividing wall column (DWC). Other separation processes are also possible.
• DWC dividing wall column
• the extract also undergoes a separation process to separate the extract into at least a
• the SOAR fraction can be returned to the feed of the RCU (e.g., the SMB unit), while the SDCP fraction is removed from the process.
• Suitable separation processes for the extract include, but are not limited to, those discussed herein for the raffinate. As discussed herein, because the equilibrium-limited reactions do not produce water and because the FODR is primarily separated into the raffinate stream, there is less of an opportunity for an azeotrope to form with the FODR and/or the FAP.
• the FODR can react beyond the equilibrium conversion value, as discussed herein, with the SOAR to produce the product mixture.
• FODR does not all react in the RCU
• FODR emerges from the RCU.
• the residual unreacted FODR is preferably separated into the raffinate stream for easier downstream processing.
• this residual unreacted FODR can also be recovered as a third product from the RCU.
• this third product from the RCU can be recovered from the RCU by employing a multi-component SMB separation scheme, where the third product is recovered in a third stream from the RCU.
• SMB units as discussed herein, for separating tertiary reaction mixtures (e.g., raffinate, extract and unreacted FODR) can be found in "Comparison of various ternary simulated moving bed separation schemes by multi- objective optimization" (Agrawal et al., Journal of Chromatography A, 1238 (2012) 105-113), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
• the separation of the product mixture into the raffinate and the extract in the RCU might be enhanced by the use of a non-reactive solvent in addition to the SOAR of the mobile phase.
• non-reactive solvents can include, but are not limited to, a ketone. This use of an added mobile phase solvent would be optional, but could be useful to enhance the separation ability of the RCU for the present disclosure.
• the process of the present disclosure can be used for a variety of equilibrium-limited reactions that produce non-aqueous reaction products (e.g., an alcohol), and not for reactions that produce water.
• An example of such equilibrium-limited reactions includes, but is not limited to, a transesterification reaction.
• Another example of such equilibrium-limited reactions includes, but is not limited to, a transamination reaction.
• Yet another example of such equilibrium-limited reactions includes, but is not limited to, an amidation reaction and a transamidation reaction.
• FODR can be an acylating agent (AA).
• AA acylating agent
• the process of the present disclosure uses the RCU for the transesterification reaction of the OS with the AA to form the FAP, in this case an acyl-group containing organic compound (AGCOC), and the SDCP, in this case an acyl donor co-product (ADCP).
• AGCOC acyl-group containing organic compound
• ADCP acyl donor co-product
• the RCU allows for the equilibrium-limited reaction of the OS and the AA and the separation of the AGCOC and the ADCP products to drive the conversion of the equilibrium-limited reaction.
• the process of the present disclosure includes supplying to the RCU the OS and the AA to create the reaction mixture, where the AA is in a stoichiometric deficit relative the OS for the equilibrium limited reaction.
• the RCU has separation media to separate the AGCOC and the ADCP products into one of two streams: a raffinate and an extract
• the OS supplied to the RCU is in a stoichiometric excess relative the AA. Due to this stoichiometric excess the OS in addition to being a reactant in the equilibrium limited reaction also acts as the eluent or the desorbent for the extract and the raffinate of the RCU. Likewise, because the AA supplied to the RCU is in the stoichiometric deficit relative the OS, the AA in the RCU reacts beyond the equilibrium conversion value, as discussed herein, to form the AGCOC and the ADCP via the equilibrium limited reaction.
• the process of the present disclosure greatly simplifies the equilibrium-limited reaction compared to reactive distillation processes, which can have difficulty stripping the ADCP to drive conversion without also taking some of the AA overhead, thus requiring an additional unit operation to separate the resulting azeotropic mixture of AA and ADCP.
• the OS is in a stoichiometric deficit relative the AA for the equilibrium-limited reaction in the RCU.
• Such embodiments can address certain equilibrium-limited reactions that have the potential of forming azeotropes of either AGCOC and OS or ADCP and OS reaction products.
• the OS and the AA are supplied to the RCU
• the RCU has separation media, as discussed herein, to separate the AGCOC and the ADCP.
• the process operates continuously, with the OS and the AA being introduced, the equilibrium-limited reactions occurring and the AGCOC and ADCP products being separated into the raffinate and the extract, respectively.
• the OS acts as the eluent in both the raffinate and the extract, while the AA reacts beyond the equilibrium conversion value , as discussed herein, to form the product mixture in the RCU.
• Suitable examples of supplying the AA in the stoichiometric deficit relative the OS for the reaction include supplying a stoichiometric ratio of AA to OS (AA:OS) in a range from 1 : 1.1 to 1 : 10; in a range from 1 : 1.5 to 1 :5; or in a range from 1 :2 to 1 :3.
• the feed introduced to the SMB unit contains at least one OS and at least one AA, where the SMB unit is operated at a pressure and a temperature suitable for the equilibrium limited reaction.
• Operating conditions will depend upon the catalyst (when present) and the separation media used in the SMB unit. Typical operating temperatures and operating pressures for the equilibrium limited reactions in the SMB unit are provided herein.
• the operating conditions can be set so that the streams of the reactants (e.g., OS and AA) are in the liquid phase, and all components are in the liquid phase.
• the OS can include, but are not limited to, a hydroxy containing organic compound (HCOC).
• HCOCs include those compounds having a free hydroxyl group suitable for undergoing an acylation reaction.
• Specific examples of the OS and/or the HCOC include, but are not limited to, glycol ethers or combinations thereof.
• the OS and/or the HCOC is a glycol ether (GE) having the formula:
• R' is an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms or an aryl group having 6 to 11 carbon atoms
• R" is hydrogen, methyl, or ethyl
• n is an integer from 1 to 4.
• the HCOC reacts with the AA to form an organic acetate (OA) and an alcohol co-product (AC) during the acylation reaction.
• OA organic acetate
• AC alcohol co-product
• the AA is in the stoichiometric deficit relative the HCOC to react beyond the equilibrium conversion value, as discussed herein, in the RCU that contains a catalyst for the acylation reaction, as discussed herein, and the separation media to separate the OA and the AC.
• the raffinate separated with the separation media contains at least the OA
• the extract separated with the separation media contains at least the AC.
• the AA can be, but is not limited to, an acetate selected from the group consisting of methyl acetate, ethyl acetate (EtAc), propyl acetate, butyl acetate or a combination thereof.
• the AA can also be selected from the group consisting of a propionate, a benzoate, an adipate, an ester of a glycol ether or a combination thereof.
• the AA can include an ester of a glycol ether (GE) having the formula: — (OCH 2 CHR") n — O— R'" where R is an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms or an aryl group having 6 to 11 carbon atoms; R" is hydrogen, methyl, or ethyl; R" is hydrogen or an acyl group of the form — C(O)— R"" wherein R"" is an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms; and n is an integer from 1 to 4.
• GE glycol ether
• the AA is EtAc
• the OS is GE
• the process of the present disclosure can be used in a transesterification reaction in which the GE is reacted with AA, as provided herein, to form the corresponding glycol ether ester (GEE) plus the corresponding AC (e.g., methanol (MeOH), ethanol (EtOH), propanol (PrOH), or butanol (BuOH)).
• GEE glycol ether ester
• AC e.g., methanol (MeOH), ethanol (EtOH), propanol (PrOH), or butanol (BuOH)
• the separation media of the RCU allow for separation of the reaction products into a raffinate stream and an extract stream.
• the raffinate contains at least the AGCOC, while the extract contains at least the ADCP.
• the OS is used as the eluent, the raffinate and the extract also contains OS (e.g., the raffinate includes OS and AGCOC, and the extract includes OS and ADCP, where the raffmate is less polar relative to the extract).
• residual unreacted AA may elute from the RCU in either the extract or the raffmate stream. It is preferable to operate the RCU in such a manner as to separate the residual unreacted AA into the raffmate stream to avoid the downstream separation of potential azeotropes between AA and ADCP. It is also possible that undesirable heavy compounds can be present in the raffmate, where the heavy compounds were present in the feed or were produced as undesired by-products of the equilibrium limited reaction (e.g., an acylation reaction).
• the raffmate can undergo a separation process to separate the raffmate into an AGCOC product fraction and a recycle fraction, where the recycle fraction contains the OS, residual unreacted AA, and an AGCOC cut.
• the recycle fraction can be returned to the RCU (e.g., the SMB unit), while the AGCOC cut is collected as a product.
• the recycle fraction can be returned to the feed of the RCU.
• the recycle fraction can be returned to a location within the RCU where the molar compositions of the OS, AA, and the AGCOC in the recycle fraction have similar values to the molar concentrations of the OS, AA, and the AGCOC in the RCU (e.g., a point of similar concentration in the chromatography cycle of the SMB unit).
• Suitable separation process for the raffmate include, but are not limited to, distillation processes, as are known, that can form the AGCOC product fraction and a recycle fraction.
• suitable distillation process include continuous distillation processes, including those that use a DWC. Other separation processes are also possible.
• the extract also undergoes a separation process to separate the extract into at least an OS fraction and an ADCP fraction.
• the OS fraction can be returned to the feed of the RCU (e.g., the SMB unit), while the ADCP fraction is removed from the process.
• Suitable separation processes for the extract include, but are not limited to, those discussed herein for the raffmate. As discussed herein, because the equilibrium limited reactions does not produce water and because the AA is primarily separated into the raffmate stream, there is less of an opportunity for an azeotrope to form with the AA and/or the AGCOC in the extract.
• the AA can react beyond the equilibrium conversion value with the OS.
• AA does not all react in the RCU, AA emerges from the RCU.
• the unreacted AA is preferably separated into the raffmate stream for easier downstream processing.
• this unreacted AA can be recovered as a third product from the RCU.
• this third product from the RCU can be recovered from the RCU by employing a multi-component SMB separation scheme, as discussed herein.
• Embodiments of the present disclosure can also be used to enable enantioselective acylation reactions used to produce enantiomers with enhanced chiral purity.
• enzyme biocatalysts such as lipases are known to be selective for specific enantiomers and can tolerate non-aqueous liquids, so the enzyme catalyzed acylation reaction can be used to generate compounds with enhanced chiral purity.
• Non-enzymatic enantioselective catalysts also are known and may be used.
• Enantioselective amidation and amination reactions also are known.
• the enantiomers produced by these enantioselective reactions are valuable compounds useful as synthons (synthetic building blocks) for use in the asymmetric (chiral) synthesis of specialty products such as pharmaceuticals, agricultural chemicals, and other biologically-active products. Often these are equilibrium-limited reactions, and the embodiments of the present disclosure can help to drive conversion by providing simultaneous reaction and separation, as discussed herein. Embodiments of the present disclosure may enable enantioselective acylations, and similar reactions, simultaneous production of multiple enantiomer products.
• an enantioselective acylation reaction may be carried out such that both a substrate (e.g., the SOAR) and an acyl donor (e.g., the FODR) are chiral compounds (supplied as racemates), so an (i?)-enantioselective catalyst can produce up to four enantiomers with enhanced chiral purity: the two (i?)-enantiomer reaction products plus the two unreacted (S)- enantiomers.
• the effective overall reaction can be written:
• enantioselective acylation reaction to produce multiple enantiomers with enhanced chiral purity
• an enantioselective acylation reaction to produce multiple enantiomers with enhanced chiral purity can include the (R)-enantioselective reaction of propylene glycol n-butyl ether (PnB) with propylene glycol methyl ether acetate (PMA) to give the (R)-enantiomer reaction products propylene glycol n-butyl ether acetate (PnBA) and propylene glycol methyl ether (PM) plus an unreacted (S)-enantiomers of the two racemic reagents.
• PnB propylene glycol n-butyl ether acetate
• PM propylene glycol methyl ether
• This reaction unlike the other discussed herein, involves the use of both reactants that are supplied in equal stoichiometric amounts and an added mobile phase solvent (e.g., a ketone).
• an added mobile phase solvent e.g., a ketone.
• Other process configurations and molar ratios are possible to give various reaction mixtures that can be separated by using chromatography and/or distillation methods discussed herein.
• the (R,S)-PnB and the (R,S)-PMA are supplied to the RCU to create the reaction mixture.
• the RCU has separation media to separate the product mixture of the (R)-PnBA, (R)-PM, (S)-PnB and (S)-PMA into a raffmate and an extract.
• the extract can include the (R)-PM and (S)-PnB plus the mobile phase
• the raffmate can include the (R)-PnBA and (S)-PMA, plus the mobile phase.
• both (R)-enantiomer reagents are supplied to the RCU in stoichiometric ratio and react beyond the equilibrium conversion value.
• Separation processes can be used to separate the raffmate into an (S)-PMA fraction and a (R)-PnBA fraction, and to separate the extract into an (R)-PM fraction and a (S)-PnB + mobile phase fraction.
• Ex. 1 is the transesterification through a single column reactive chromatography test of 1- methoxy-2-propanol (DOWANOLTM PM, The Dow Chemical Company) with ethyl acetate (EMD, HPLC grade, >99.8%) to propylene glycol methyl ether acetate and ethanol.
• DOWANOLTM PM 1- methoxy-2-propanol
• EMD ethyl acetate
• Comp. Ex. A repeats the transesterification reaction of Ex. 1, but done in a batch configuration.
• Fig. 1 illustrates that the separation of the reaction products for Ex. 1 was achieved.
• Fig. 1 also illustrates that for Ex. 1 the conversion of ethyl acetate exceeded the equilibrium limit in achieving a conversion of approximately 73 weight percent (wt.%) based on the reaction products (estimated from calculations using the trapezoidal rule). This is a significant improvement from the batch experiment of Comp. Ex. A, where Fig. 2 illustrates that only 53 wt.% (based on the reaction products) of ethyl acetate converted after 28 hours. This result is believed to be due to achieving reaction equilibrium for the transesterification reaction.
• Ex. 2 is the transesterification through a single column reactive chromatography test of 1- methoxy-2-propanol (PM, Alfa Aesar, 99+% ) with ethyl acetate (EMD, HPLC grade, >99.8%) to propylene glycol methyl ether acetate and ethanol with a strong base anion exchange resin.
• DOWEXTM MARATHON A The Dow Chemical Company anion exchange resin by packing the wet adsorbent into one stainless steel column (Knauer, inner diameter 0.8 centimeters, length 0.25 meters) and then flowing 12 bed volumes of the dried l-methoxy-2-propanol through the column with a high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) pump set to a flow rate of 0.1 bed volume per minute. Place the column into a column oven set at a temperature of 40 °C and continue to pump the l-methoxy-2-propanol as the eluent through the column at a rate of 0.1 bed volume per minute.
• HPLC high pressure liquid chromatography
• Comp. Ex. B repeats the transesterification reaction of Ex. 2, but done in a batch configuration.
• Dehydrate DOWEXTM MARATHON A (The Dow Chemical Company) anion exchange resin by packing the wet adsorbent into a glass column (inside diameter 1.5 cm and length 22.6 cm) and then flowing 8.0 bed volumes of the dried l-methoxy-2-propanol through the column with an HPLC pump set to a flow rate of 0.0675 bed volumes per minute. Remove the dehydrated resin (8.75 g) and load it with l-methoxy-2-propanol (100 mL) into a four-necked spherical glass flask of 500mL capacity fitted with a coil condenser to prevent any loss of products. Control the temperature within ⁇ 0.

Landscapes

• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Sustainable Development (AREA)
• Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)
• Catalysts (AREA)

Priority Applications (7)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=50977074

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Families Citing this family (1)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 2014
  • 2014-05-02 CA CA2909999A patent/CA2909999C/en active Active
  • 2014-05-02 JP JP2016512069A patent/JP6829600B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2014-05-02 CN CN201480024242.2A patent/CN105164099B/zh active Active
  • 2014-05-02 BR BR112015027597-4A patent/BR112015027597B1/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2014-05-02 ES ES14731441.3T patent/ES2693493T3/es active Active
  • 2014-05-02 WO PCT/US2014/036602 patent/WO2014179706A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2014-05-02 US US14/888,512 patent/US9630890B2/en active Active
  • 2014-05-02 EP EP14731441.3A patent/EP2991964B1/en not_active Not-in-force
• 2019
  • 2019-02-28 JP JP2019035640A patent/JP2019131557A/ja active Pending

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events