Borealis Ag

Borealis Technology Oy

Anja Mannerla

Veli-Matti Purola

Jouni Saukonoja

Timo Pakala

Ismo Pentti

A process for oxidizing cumene to cumene hydroperoxide using an oxygen containing gas, which process composes&#x2014;conducting a cumene feed and an oxygen containing gas feed to at least the first oxidation reactor in a series of 3-8 reactors, thereby forming an oxidation mixture, and&#x2014;conducting the oxidation mixture from one oxidation reactor to at least one subsequent reactor, wherein&#x2014;the reactors are operated with reducing liquid levels; &#x2014;the oxidation is operated as a dry oxidation, whereby the only gaseous feeds conducted to the oxidation reactors are the cumene feed and the oxygen containing gas feed; &#x2014;the oxygen containing gas feed is washed with caustic and then with water to remove all acidic or caustic traces before conducting it into an oxidation reactor; &#x2014;the pressure within each oxidation reactor is in the range of 0-10 barg; &#x2014;the off-gases from the top section of each oxidation reactor are separated and cooled, whereby a condensate containing unreacted cumene is formed, and&#x2014;washing the condensate and recycling at least a part of it to at least the first oxidation reactor; &#x2014;the non-condensed off-gases are treated in a thermal oxidizer; and&#x2014;the first reactor in the series of oxidation reactors has a liquid inventory of 30-300% larger than in the remaining reactors, preferably 50-100%, or the first two reactors in the series of oxidation reactors have a liquid inventory of 30-300% larger than in the remaining reactors, preferably 50-100%.

Growing community of inventors

Espoo, Finland

Anja Mannerla