Nova Chemicals (International) S.a.

Nova Chemicals Inc.

David Gent

Vasily Simanzhenkov

Shahin Goodarznia

Kamal Elias Serhal

Bolaji Olayiwola

Mark Williamson

Robert Ladd

Xiaoliang Gao

Yoonhee Kim

Mohamed Aiffa

Claire Jeannine Ennis

Kamal Serhal

The present disclosure relates to limiting the production of acetic acid in an oxidative dehydrogenation process to convert ethane to ethylene. The process of oxidative dehydrogenation includes feeding acetic acid, along with ethane and oxygen into an oxidative dehydrogenation reactor where contact with a catalyst leads to conversion of the ethane into ethylene and acetic acid. By including acetic acid in the feed, the amount of acetic acid produced may be limited and the ratio of ethylene produced to ethane consumed may increase.

Limiting acetic acid production in ethane ODH process

A method of converting one or more alkanes to one or more alkenes that includes providing a first stream containing one or more alkanes and oxygen to an oxidative dehydrogenation reactor; converting at least a portion of the one or more alkanes to one or more alkenes in the oxidative dehydrogenation reactor to provide a second stream exiting the oxidative dehydrogenation reactor containing one or more alkanes, one or more alkenes, and one or more of oxygen, carbon monoxide and acetylene; and providing the second stream to a second reactor containing a catalyst that includes CuO and ZnO and reacting the second stream to provide a third stream exiting the second reactor containing one or more alkanes, one or more alkenes, and lower or undetectable levels of oxygen and acetylene compared to the second stream.

Removal of carbon monoxide, oxygen and acetylene from an oxidative dehydrogenation process

A method that includes (a) providing a stream containing ethane and oxygen to an ODH reactor; (b) converting a portion of the ethane to ethylene and acetic acid in the ODH reactor to provide a stream containing ethane, ethylene, acetic acid, oxygen and carbon monoxide; (c) separating a portion of the acetic acid from the stream to provide an acetic acid stream and a stream containing ethane, ethylene, oxygen and carbon monoxide; (d) providing the stream to a CO Oxidation Reactor containing a catalyst that includes a group 11 metal to convert carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and reacting acetylene to produce a stream containing ethane, ethylene and carbon dioxide; and (e) providing a portion of the stream and a portion of the acetic acid stream to a third reactor containing a catalyst that includes a metal selected from group 10 and group 11 metals to produce vinyl acetate.

Process to produce ethylene and vinyl acetate monomer and derivatives thereof

Oxidative dehydrogenation is an alternative to the energy extensive steam cracking process presently used for the production of olefins from paraffins, but has not been implemented commercially partially due to the unstable nature of hydrocarbon/oxygen mixtures, and partially due to the cost involved in the construction of new facilities. An oxidative dehydrogenation chemical complex designed to reduce costs by including integration of an oxygen separation module that also addresses safety concerns and reduces emission of greenhouse gases is described.

Complex comprising ODH unit with integrated oxygen separation module

Growing community of inventors

Red Deer, Canada

David Gent