Multi-phase alkylation process
First Claim
1. In the production of ethylbenzene, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a first alkylation reaction zone containing a molecular sieve aromatic alkylation catalyst;
(b) supplying a feedstock containing benzene and ethylene to said first alkylation reaction zone;
(c) operating said first alkylation reaction zone at temperature and pressure conditions in which benzene is in the gaseous phase to cause gas-phase ethylation of said benzene in the presence of said molecular sieve catalyst to produce an alkylation product comprising a mixture of benzene and ethylbenzene;
(d) recovering said alkylation product from said first reaction zone and supplying at least a portion of said product from said first reaction zone to a second alkylation reaction zone containing a molecular sieve aromatic alkylation catalyst;
(e) supplying ethylene to said second alkylation reaction zone;
(f) operating said second alkylation reaction zone at temperature and pressure conditions in which benzene is in the liquid phase or in the supercritical phase to cause ethylation of said benzene in the presence of said second molecular sieve to produce an alkylation product comprising a mixture of benzene and ethylbenzene;
(g) recovering the alkylation product from said second alkylation reaction zone and supplying said product from said second alkylation reaction zone to a recovery zone for the separation of benzene and the separation and recovery of ethylbenzene from the alkylation product; and
(h) recycling benzene recovered from said recovery zone to at least one of said first and second alkylation reaction zones.
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Abstract
A process for the production of ethylbenzene by the gas phase alkylation of benzene over a molecular sieve aromatic alkylation catalyst followed by liquid phase alkylation of the product of the gas phase alkylation. A feedstock containing benzene and ethylene is supplied to a first alkylation reaction zone containing a molecular sieve aromatic alkylation catalyst. The reaction zone is operated at temperature and pressure conditions to cause gas phase ethylation of the benzene with the production of an alkylation product comprising a mixture of ethylbenzene and polyalkylated aromatic components including diethylbenzene. The output from the first alkylation reaction zone is supplied, at least in part, to a second alkylation zone which is operated in the liquid phase or in the supercritical region followed by supply to an intermediate recovery zone for the separation and recovery of ethylbenzene and a polyalkylated aromatic compound component including diethylbenzene.
40 Citations
20 Claims
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1. In the production of ethylbenzene, the method comprising:
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(a) providing a first alkylation reaction zone containing a molecular sieve aromatic alkylation catalyst;
(b) supplying a feedstock containing benzene and ethylene to said first alkylation reaction zone;
(c) operating said first alkylation reaction zone at temperature and pressure conditions in which benzene is in the gaseous phase to cause gas-phase ethylation of said benzene in the presence of said molecular sieve catalyst to produce an alkylation product comprising a mixture of benzene and ethylbenzene;
(d) recovering said alkylation product from said first reaction zone and supplying at least a portion of said product from said first reaction zone to a second alkylation reaction zone containing a molecular sieve aromatic alkylation catalyst;
(e) supplying ethylene to said second alkylation reaction zone;
(f) operating said second alkylation reaction zone at temperature and pressure conditions in which benzene is in the liquid phase or in the supercritical phase to cause ethylation of said benzene in the presence of said second molecular sieve to produce an alkylation product comprising a mixture of benzene and ethylbenzene;
(g) recovering the alkylation product from said second alkylation reaction zone and supplying said product from said second alkylation reaction zone to a recovery zone for the separation of benzene and the separation and recovery of ethylbenzene from the alkylation product; and
(h) recycling benzene recovered from said recovery zone to at least one of said first and second alkylation reaction zones. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In the production of ethylbenzene and the separate transalkylation of polyethylbenzene, the method comprising:
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(a) providing a first alkylation reaction zone containing a molecular sieve aromatic alkylation catalyst;
(b) supplying a feedstock containing benzene and ethylene to said first alkylation reaction zone;
(c) operating said first alkylation reaction zone at temperature and pressure conditions in which benzene is in the gaseous phase to cause gas-phase ethylation of said benzene in the presence of said molecular sieve catalyst to produce an alkylation product comprising a mixture of benzene, ethylbenzene, and a polyalkylated aromatic component;
(d) recovering said alkylation product from said first reaction zone and supplying at least a portion of said product from said first reaction zone to a second alkylation reaction zone containing a molecular sieve aromatic alkylation catalyst;
(e) supplying ethylene to said second alkylation reaction zone;
(f) operating said second alkylation reaction zone at temperature and pressure conditions in which benzene is in the liquid phase or in the supercritical phase to cause ethylation of said benzene in the presence of said second molecular sieve to produce an alkylation product comprising a mixture of benzene, ethylbenzene, and a polyalkylated aromatic component;
(g) recovering the alkylation product from said second alkylation reaction zone and supplying at least a portion said product from said second alkylation reaction zone to an intermediate recovery zone for the separation and recovery of ethylbenzene from the alkylation product and the separation and recovery of a polyalkylated aromatic component including diethylbenzene;
(h) supplying at least a portion of said polyalkylated aromatic component including diethylbenzene in said polyalkylated component to a transalkylation zone containing a molecular sieve transalkylation catalyst;
(i) supplying benzene to said transalkylation reaction zone;
(j) operating said transalkylation reaction zone under temperature and pressure conditions to cause disproportionation of said polyalkylated aromatic fraction to produce a disproportionation product containing unreacted benzene and having a reduced diethylbenzene content and an enhanced ethylbenzene content. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. In the production of ethylbenzene, the method comprising:
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(a) providing a first alkylation reaction zone containing a molecular sieve aromatic alkylation catalyst comprising monoclinic silicalite having an average crystal size of less than one micron and a silica/alumina ratio of at least 250;
(b) supplying a feedstock containing benzene and ethylene to said first alkylation reaction zone;
(c) operating said first alkylation reaction zone at temperature and pressure conditions in which benzene is in the gaseous phase to cause gas-phase ethylation of said benzene in the presence of said molecular sieve catalyst to produce an alkylation product comprising a mixture of benzene and ethylbenzene;
(d) recovering said first alkylation product from said first reaction zone and supplying at least a portion of said product from said first reaction zone to a second alkylation reaction zone containing an intermediate molecular sieve aromatic alkylation catalyst having an effective pore size greater than the effective pore size of said silicalite in said first alkylation reaction zone;
(e) supplying ethylene to said second alkylation reaction zone;
(f) operating said second alkylation reaction zone at temperature and pressure conditions in which benzene is in the liquid phase or in the supercritical phase to cause ethylation of said benzene in the presence of said second molecular sieve to produce an alkylation product comprising a mixture of benzene and ethylbenzene; and
(g) recovering the alkylation product from said second alkylation reaction zone and supplying said product from said second alkylation reaction zone to a recovery zone for the separation and recovery of ethylbenzene from the alkylation product;
(h) recycling benzene recovered from said recovery zone to at least one of said first and second alkylation reaction zones. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification