The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 04, 2000
Filed:
Feb. 25, 1999
Michael J Mummey, Austin, TX (US);
Robert A Keppel, Chesterfield, MO (US);
A Lamar Reeves, Gonzalez, FL (US);
Huntsman Petrochemical Corporation, Austin, TX (US);
Abstract
Improved methods and apparatus for manufacture of maleic anhydride by catalytic oxidation of n-butane or other hydrocarbon having four carbon atoms in a straight chain over a fixed catalyst bed comprising a phosphorus vanadium oxide catalyst. Movement of catalyst bodies with respect to each other and with respect to the walls of the reaction chamber is restrained so as to prevent the catalyst bodies from abrading against each other or the reactor chamber walls in a manner that would cause formation of catalyst fines. Methods and apparatus are also provided for removal of fines from a fixed catalyst bed. The methods of the invention are effective to prevent loss of catalyst from a tubular reactor, and to control degradation of solvent absorbent in a process in which maleic anhydride is separated from the reaction gas by absorption into such a solvent.