Basf Se Corporation

Michael Hübner

Daniel Pfeiffer

Stefan Bitterlich

Nicole Holub

Lukas Schulz

Pawel Czajka

Andreas Weickgenannt

Steffen Tschirschwitz

Marta Porta Garcia

Oliver Christian Gobin

Jochen Bürkle

Joni Joni

The present invention relates to a chemical conversion process, preferably an isomerization process, for at least one hydrocarbon in the presence of an ionic liquid. The chemical conversion is performed in a dispersion, with dispersion of the hydrocarbon (phase (B)) in the ionic liquid (phase (A)) in the dispersion, the volume ratio of phase (A) to phase (B) being in the range from 2.5 to 4:1 [vol/vol].

Chemical conversion process in a dispersion

A process for separating a phase (A) comprising at least one ionic liquid from a phase (B), where phase (A) has a higher viscosity than phase (B), comprising: a) providing a stream (S) comprising a dispersion (D) in which phase (A) is dispersed in phase (B), b) introducing stream (S) into a coalescing device (KV), where the inflow rate of stream (S) is from 0.05 to 150 kg/(cm*h) based on the average cross-sectional area of coalescing device (KV), wherein the packing density of coalescing device (KV) is from 50 to 500 kg/m, separating phase (A) from phase (B) in coalescing device (KV), discharging a stream (S) comprising at least 70% by weight of phase (A) from coalescing device (KV) and discharging a stream (S) comprising at least 70% by weight of phase (B) from coalescing device (KV).

Separation of ionic liquids in coalescing devices

The present invention relates to a process for preparing cyclohexane from methylcyclopentane (MCP) and benzene. In the context of the present invention, MCP and benzene are constituents of a hydrocarbon mixture (HM1) additionally comprising dimethylpentanes (DMP), possibly cyclohexane and possibly at least one compound (low boiler) selected from acyclic C-C-alkanes and cyclopentane. First of all, benzene is converted in a hydrogenation step to cyclohexane (that present in the hydrocarbon mixture (HM2)), while MCP is isomerized in the presence of a catalyst, preferably of an acidic ionic liquid, to cyclohexane. After the hydrogenation but prior to the isomerization the dimethylpentanes (DMP) are removed, with initial removal of the cyclohexane present in the hydrocarbon mixture (HM2) together with DMP. This cyclohexane already present prior to the isomerization can be separated again from DMP in a downstream rectification step and isolated and/or recycled into the process for cyclohexane preparation. Between the DMP removal and MCP isomerization&#x2014;if low boilers are present in the hydrocarbon mixture (HM1)&#x2014;low boilers are, optionally removed. After the isomerization, the cyclohexane is isolated, optionally with return of unisomerized MCP and optionally of low boilers. Preferably, cyclohexane and/or low boilers are present in the hydrocarbon mixture (HM1), and so a low boiler removal is preferably conducted between the DMP removal from isomerization. It is additionally preferable that the removal of the cyclohexane from DMP is additionally conducted, meaning that the cyclohexane component which arises in the benzene hydrogenation and may be present in the starting mixture (HM1) is isolated and hence recovered.

Process for preparing cyclohexane from benzene and methylcyclopentane with upstream benzene hydrogenation

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Weinheim, Germany

Michael Hübner