The Boc Group, Inc.

Yagya Shukla

Ramakrishnan Ramachandran

Donald L MacLean

Ramachandran Krish Krishnamurthy

Steven L Lerner

Alan G Stokley

A process for separation of a gas mixture containing three components, e.g. a mixture comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide produced by steam reforming a hydrocarbon, by pressure swing adsorption is disclosed. In one embodiment of the process, the gas mixture is sequentially passed through first and second adsorptive regions each of which adsorbs a second component more strongly than a first component but less strongly than a third component, a first fraction enriched in the first component is withdrawn from the downstream end of the second region, introduction of gas mixture to the first region is stopped and the second region is closed to the first region, a second fraction enriched in the second component is withdrawn first from the upstream end of the second adsorptive region while passing gas mixture enriched in the third component into the first region from its upstream end and then from the downstream end of the first region, and withdrawing a third fraction enriched in the third component from the upstream end of the first region. The separation process is also applicable to other gas mixtures such as a mixture of hydrogen, argon, methane and nitrogen commonly available as ammonia plant purge gas from which ammonia has been removed.

Separation of gas mixtures including hydrogen

An improved process is provided for the production of nitriles from hydrocarbons by reaction with an oxygen-containing gas comprising oxygen, air or a gas enriched in oxygen relative to air and ammonia in the presence of a suitable catalyst. In the process, a selective separator provides recycle of a substantial portion of the unreacted hydrocarbon as well as for a controlled amount of a gaseous flame suppressor in the system. The gaseous flame suppressor comprises a substantially unreactive hydrocarbon containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms, carbon dioxide and nitrogen when present in the feed to the ammoxidation reactor. The use of air or oxygen-enriched air in the feed to the ammoxidation reactor is particularly advantageous from an economic view in combination with a pressure swing adsorption unit as the selective separator. The process is characterized by high selectivity to the formation of the product.

Process for the production of nitriles

An improved process is provided for the production of anhydrides from hydrocarbons by reaction with an oxygen-containing gas comprising oxygen, air or a gas enriched in oxygen relative to air, in the presence of a suitable catalyst. In the process, a selective separator provides recycle of a substantial portion of the unreacted hydrocarbon as well as for a controlled amount of a gaseous flame suppressor in the system. The gaseous flame suppressor comprises a substantially unreactive hydrocarbon containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen when present in the feed to the oxidation reactor. The use of air or oxygen-enriched air in the feed to the oxidation reactor is particularly advantageous from an economic view in combination with a pressure swing adsorption unit as the selective separator. The process is characterized by high selectively to the formation of the anhydride product.

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Roselle Park, NJ, United States of America

Yagya Shukla