Exxonmobil Chemical Patents Inc.

Ashley J Malik

Jörg F W Weber

Christopher Lynn Becker

Kendele S Galvan

Jihad Mohammed Dakka

Tan-Jen Chen

Jason D Davis

Kirk C Nadler

Seth McConkie Washburn

Jose M Vargas

Medrado M Leal

Disclosed are a process for abating 3-cyclohexenone from a feed mixture comprising 3-cylclohexenone and cyclohexanone, comprising a hydrogenation step of contacting the feed mixture with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst under hydrogenation conditions to obtain a hydrogenated mixture, cyclohexanone-containing products comprising 3-cyclohexenone and/or 2-cyclohexenone at low concentrations, and compositions of matter useful for making such cyclohexanone-containing products, particularly by using such processes.

Cyclohexanone-containing products and processes for making the same

Disclosed are processes for abating 3-cyclohexenone from a feed mixture comprising cyclohexylbenzene, cyclohexanone, phenol, and 3-cyclohexenone and cyclohexanone, comprising feeding the feed mixture to a first distillation column and a hydrogenating a fraction from in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst under hydrogenation conditions. Hydrogenation can be carried out in a hydrogenation reactor separate from the first distillation column or in a hydrogenation zone disposed inside the first distillation column.

Processes for making cyclohexanone

Disclosed are processes for making cyclohexanone from a feed mixture comprising cyclohexylbenzene, cyclohexanone, phenol, 3-cylclohexenone and optionally 2-cyclohexenone, comprising feeding the feed mixture to a first distillation column and hydrogenating a fraction from the first distillation column in a hydrogenation reactor separate from the first distillation in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst under hydrogenation conditions. A cyclohexanone-rich upper effluent comprising 3-cyclohexenone and 2-cyclohexenone at low concentrations can be obtained from the first distillation column.

Disclosed are processes for making such cyclohexanone compositions from a mixture comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, and cyclohexylbenzene. Such cyclohexanone compositions comprise at least 99 wt % cyclohexanone, at most 0.15 wt % water, and at most 500 wppm combined of certain cyclohexanone impurities selected from the group consisting of: benzene, cyclohexene, pentanal, cyclopentanol, cyclohexanol, and phenol.

Cyclohexanone compositions and processes for making such compositions

Disclosed are novel processes for making cyclohexanone compositions, from a mixture comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, and cyclohexylbenzene. The process includes hydrogenation of a feed stream comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, and cyclohexylbenzene. The feed stream may be subjected to one or more pre-hydrogenation treatments, such as passing through one or more sorbents, addition of basic chemical agents, and/or addition of water, so as to improve catalyst activity, minimize undesired side reactions, and/or remove catalyst poisons from the feed stream. The feed stream may be provided to a hydrogenation reaction zone in the vapor phase, with periodic alterations to hydrogenation reaction conditions such that the feed is provided in mixed liquid and vapor phase in order to carry out liquid washing of a hydrogenation catalyst bed within the hydrogenation reaction zone.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Ashley J Malik