Catalytic Distillation Technologies

Kerry L Rock

Willibrord A Groten

Christopher C Boyer

Lawrence A Smith, Jr

Mitchell E Loescher

Mario J Maraschino

Arvids Judzis, Jr

Yi-Gang Xiong

A process for reducing benzene content in a reformate stream, including: fractionating a full range reformate comprising benzene, Cto Cmonoalkyl aromatics, and Cpolyalkyl aromatics into at least three fractions including a light reformate fraction comprising the benzene; a medium reformate fraction comprising the Cto Cmonoalkyl aromatics; and a heavy reformate fraction comprising the Cpolyalkyl aromatics; feeding the light reformate fraction, the heavy reformate fraction and a transalkylation catalyst to a transalkylation reaction zone; contacting the light fraction and the heavy fraction in presence of the transalkylation catalyst in the transalkylation reaction zone to react at least a portion of the benzene with Cpolyalkyl aromatics to form monoalkyl aromatics; separating an effluent from the transalkylation reaction zone to form a catalyst fraction and a liquid fraction comprising the monoalkyl aromatics.

Reformate benzene reduction via transalkylation

A process for the production of tertiary ethers, including: feeding a hydrocarbon stream comprising isoolefins and propionitrile to a distillation column reactor system containing at least one etherification reaction zone; feeding a Cto Cmonoalcohol or mixture thereof to the distillation column reactor; concurrently in the distillation column reactor system: reacting a portion of the isoolefins with a portion of the alcohols to form a tertiary ether; and separating the tertiary ether from unreacted isoolefins; withdrawing the tertiary ether and propionitrile from the distillation column reactor system as a bottoms; withdrawing the unreacted isoolefins from the distillation column reactor system as an overheads; and operating the distillation column reactor system such that the etherification reaction zone is substantially free of propionitrile.

Method of producing tertiary amyl ethyl ether

A process for the production of low sulfur, low olefin gasoline wherein a cracked naphtha, such as a full boiling range cracked naphtha, is first separated by fractional distillation into at least two fractions while simultaneously selectively hydrogenating the polyunsaturated compounds contained therein. The mono olefins in the light fraction are then subjected to etherification with alcohol to produce ethers or hydration with water to produce alcohols. The heavy fraction is subjected to sulfur removal by hydrodesulfurization or chemisorption. The two fractions are then combined to produce a low sulfur, low olefin gasoline.

Process for the production of low sulfur, low olefin gasoline

A process for the production of low benzene content gasoline is disclosed wherein a full boiling range naphtha is fractionated to produce a light naphtha, a medium naphtha and a heavy naphtha. The benzene is contained in the medium naphtha and this stream is subjected to hydrogenation to convert the benzene to cyclohexane which may be isomerized to improve the octane. The valuable olefins are removed in the light naphtha and the valuable heavier aromatics (toluene and xylenes) are removed in the heavy naphtha. In a preferred embodiment all of the reactions are carried out in distillation column reactors.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Kerry L Rock