Kellogg Brown + Root LLC

Clive Griffiths

Anand Subramanian

Ronald Birkhoff

Kiran Shah

A process for the selective hydrogenation of alpha-methyl-styrene (AMS) to cumene in a two catalyst system is disclosed. A crude cumene feed stream containing up to 10% AMS by weight is supplied to the first reaction zoneand mixed with hydrogen in a first catalyst bedcontaining a nickel catalyst, converting from 70 to 95 percent of the AMS to cumene. Cumene and remaining AMS are separated from hydrogen in a liquid take off tray. The first reaction zoneeffluent is supplied to a second reaction zone, where the effluent and hydrogen gas are mixed in a second catalyst bedcontaining a noble-metal catalyst to substantially convert any remaining AMS to cumene. Cumene is collected, separated from the hydrogen, and can be resupplied to the hydrogenation reactor, or supplied as feed to a phenol synthesis loop.

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Wilmslow, United Kingdom

Clive Griffiths