Monsanto Company

Solutia Incorporated

Charles W Rooks

James C Hill

George D Davis

Talmage D McMinn

Anthony K Uriarte

Michael J Gross

A continuous process for converting benzene or a derivative thereof to phenol or a derivative thereof comprises continuously activating .alpha.-sites on a zeolite catalyst by contacting the catalyst with a free oxidant activator, thereby producing an activated zeolite hydroxylation catalyst, and separately and continuously contacting benzene or a derivative thereof with the activated zeolite catalyst, thereby producing phenol or a derivative thereof. The benzene or derivative thereof can be separately contacted with the activated zeolite catalyst by (a) contacting in a reaction vessel that is physically separate and distinct from the vessel in which the catalyst is contacted with the free oxidant activator, (b) contacting in a zone of a vessel that is separate from the zone in that same vessel in which the catalyst is contacted with the free oxidant activator, or (c) contacting with the catalyst in a reaction vessel in a first time pulse, with the benzene or derivative thereof being contacted with the activated zeolite catalyst in a second time pulse in the same reaction vessel which does not overlap substantially with the first time pulse.

Transport hydroxylation reactor

This invention relates to the treatment of carbon-containing materials. In one aspect this invention relates to the treatment of carbon-containing materials, such as coal, coke and hydrocarbons to produce oxides of carbon therefrom. In still another aspect, this invention relates to a process for the production of high purity synthesis gas, a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, from carbon-containing materials. More specifically, this invention relates to inorganic metal-oxygen containing materials useful as the oxidant, oxygen carrier and supplier, and heat transfer agent for the endothermic oxidative gasification of carbon-containing materials.

Oxidants for gasifying carbon-containing materials

Carbon-containing materials are gasified to produce high purity carbon monoxide in a three zone unified system (oxidizer, reducer and gasifier) using a metal oxide as the oxygen and heat source for the gasification with carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide contacts the metal oxide prior to the gasification to release the oxygen and convert the carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide as the gasification medium.

Conversion of carbon-containing materials to carbon monoxide

Carbon-containing materials are gasified to produce synthesis gas, a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, in a three zone unified system (oxidizer, reducer and gasifier) using a metal oxide as the oxygen and heat source for the gasification with steam and carbon dioxide. Synthesis gas contacts the metal oxide prior to the gasification to release the oxygen and convert the synthesis gas to steam and carbon dioxide as the gasification medium.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Charles W Rooks