LIQUID-PHASE ALKENE HYDRATION-MEDIATED ALCOHOL PRODUCTION PROCESS Russian patent published in 2005 - IPC

FIELD: petrochemical processes.

SUBSTANCE: alcohols such as tert-pentanol or tert-butanol are obtained via liquid-phase hydration of alkenes contained in hydrocarbon feedstock in presence of solid high-acidity catalyst at elevated temperature in two consecutive stages followed by separation of unreacted hydrocarbons from reaction mixture withdrawn, preferably via rectification, from the second stage and containing synthesized alcohols. In the first reaction stage carried out at higher temperature, reaction zone(s) comprises two liquid phases, of which phase containing basically water, is in essential weight excess and phase mainly containing hydrocarbon(s) is in dispersed state. Withdrawn is only or mostly (i) liquid stream containing mainly hydrocarbon(s), synthesized alcohol(s), and dissolved water and optionally (ii) liquid stream containing basically water and alcohol(s). The latter, in the second stage, is fed through distribution device(s) into one or several in series arranged reaction zones, water being introduced into one or several reaction zones separately, and liquid in the second-step reaction zones, operated at lower temperature, is maintained in homogenous or heterogeneous state wherein one phase containing basically water and alcohol(s) is in dispersed state and its weight does not exceed 25% of the weight of phase basically containing hydrocarbons and alcohol(s).

EFFECT: increased conversion of feedstock and accelerated reaction.

12 cl, 1 dwg, 3 tbl, 6 ex