METHOD OF LIQUID-PHASE OXIDATION OF HYDROCARBONS Russian patent published in 1998 - IPC

FIELD: petrochemical processes. SUBSTANCE: oxidation is conducted at elevated temperature and pressure in multiple-zone reactor with vapor space common for all contact zones. Initial hydrocarbons are fed into first contact zone and oxidation product is withdrawn from the last contact zone. Oxygen-containing gas is supplied into all contact zones, over which secondary oxidation vapors are recycled. Reaction mixture is recycled in contact zones under pressure. Oxidation reaction heat is abstracted in such a way that secondary vapors coming out of all contact zones are intermixed and transferred in separate streams to be mixed with reaction mixture streams recycling in each contact zone at temperature below oxidation reaction temperature. Gas- liquid streams thus formed in each contact zone are further dispersed. In this case, a part of initial hydrocarbons at temperature below oxidation reaction temperature may be preliminarily utilized for absorption of residual oxygen and hydrocarbons from secondary oxidation vapors withdrawn from reactor by way of supplying hydrocarbons in separate streams into each contact zone. Supplied oxygen-containing gas, completely or partially, may also be mixed with secondary oxidation vapors. Reaction heat abstraction may be accomplished by cooling reaction mixture streams circulating in each contact zone. EFFECT: enhanced process efficiency. 4 cl, 5 dwg