Davy Process Technology Limited

Davy Mckee (london) Limited

Kvaerner Process Technology, Ltd.

Arthur James Reason

George E Harrison

Mohammad Sharif

John Scarlett

Alan J Dennis

Norman Harris

Colin Rathmell

Keith Turner

John W Kippax

Edward Adrian Lord

Anthony B Carter

Richard Clive Spratt

A liquid/gas reactor includes a bulk catalyst bed and means for supplying fresh feed and recycled at least partially converted liquid product stream to the bulk catalyst bed. The reactor also includes means for collecting an at least partially converted liquid product stream from the bulk catalyst bed and recycling at least a portion thereto. A minor catalyst bed extends substantially vertically through the bulk catalyst bed. Means for supplying recycled at least partially converted product stream only to the minor catalyst bed is also provided. A separating wall is disposed between the bulk catalyst bed and the minor catalyst bed.

Reactor

The invention proposes a process and waste treatment plant for regenerating alkali metal hydroxide (,) from an alkaline aqueous waste stream (,) that contains alkali metal C3&plus; carboxylate byproduct. The waste stream (,) is acidified and the resulting liquour (,) is fed to a first distillation zone (,) to distil carboxylic acid and water. Alternatively, it is fed to a settling zone (,) from which an upper organic layer (,) is recovered as well as a lower aqueous phase (,) which is fed to the first distillation zone. The overhead product (,) from the first distillation zone is condensed and separated into a carboxylic acid layer which is either purged (,) or fed (,) to the settling zone (,). The lower layer (,) of the condensate is redistilled and the water bottoms stream (,) is fed to the cathode compartment (,) of an electrolytic cell (,), while the bottoms stream (,) from the first distillation zone is supplied to the anode compartment (,). Inorganic acid (,) regenerated in the anode compartment is used to acidify the waste stream, while alkali metal hydroxide solution from the cathode compartment is recycled to the chemical production plant (,).

Process and plant for treating an aqueous waste stream containing at least one alkali metal carboxylate

An aldolisation process is disclosed for converting an aldehyde or mixture of aldehydes, such as iso-butyraldehyde and formaldehyde, to a desired polyhydroxy alcohol or glycol, such as neopentyl glycol. Aldolisation is effected in a stirred tank reactor using an alkali catalyst, such as sodium hydroxide. An aldolisation intermediate product is converted to the desired polyhydroxy alcohol or glycol by a hydrogenation or cross-Cannizzaro reaction step. The product is recovered and an aqueous catalyst-containing phase is recycled to the aldolisation zone. At least a portion of this catalyst recycle stream is purged to control the build up of cross-Cannizzaro products in the recycle stream. The purge stream is treated electrolytically to obtain an aqueous catalyst-containing solution for recycle to the aldolisation zone and an effluent stream comprising volatile organic materials and being substantially free from alkali catalyst.

Process for the commercial production of polyhydroxy alcohols and glycols

Aldolisation-dehydration process

Process for the production of butane-1,4-diol

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Saltburn, United Kingdom

Arthur James Reason