Process for the production of nitriles

Details Process for the production of nitriles Process for the production of nitriles

1988-07-06

1989-07-18

Brust, Joseph Paul

Organic compounds -- part of the class 532-570 series

Organic compounds

Nitriles

558320, C07C12014

Patent

active

048495387

ABSTRACT:
An improved process is provided for the production of nitriles from hydrocarbons by reaction with oxygen, air or a gas enriched in oxygen relative to air, preferably the latter, and ammonia in the presence of an ammoxidation catalyst. An alkane, e.g. propane, is converted to an alkene in a dehydrogenator. The product stream is introduced into an ammoxidation reactor. The product formed therein is recovered in a conventional quench tower. The gaseous effluent from the quench tower is treated in a PSA unit to form a gas stream containing the unreacted alkane and alkene as well as a minor amount, i.e. less than about 1 percent by volume, of oxygen and nitrogen, if present in the feed to the ammoxidation reactor. The gas stream, which may or may not contain hydrogen depending on the absorbent in the PSA unit, is introduced into a selective oxidation unit to remove the remaining oxygen and then recycled to the dehydrogenator. Hydrogen may be introduced into or removed from the PSA effluent, depending on the function of the adsorbent therein, to obtain an optimum concentration for introduction into the dehydrogenator. A particularly preferred PSA system for use in the subject process comprises two parallel PSA units containing different adsorbents such that the gas stream formed in one contains all of the hydrogen in the gas phase from the quench tower. The feed to the PSA units is divided disproportionately so that the combined PSA effluent recycle streams contain the optimum concentration of hydrogen for the dehydrogenator.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3161670 (1964-12-01), Adams et al.
patent: 3176444 (1965-04-01), Kiyonaga
patent: 3591620 (1971-07-01), Yoshino et al.
patent: 4070393 (1978-01-01), Angstadt et al.
patent: 4305886 (1981-12-01), Pujado
patent: 4335056 (1982-06-01), Callahan et al.
patent: 4498910 (1985-02-01), Benkmann
patent: 4609502 (1986-09-01), Khoobiar et al.
patent: 4754049 (1988-06-01), Khoobiar et al.
Gates et al.; "Chemistry of Catalytic Processes", (1979), McGraw-Hill, pp. 349-350 and 380-384.
Thomas; "Catalytic Processes and Proven Catalysts", (1970), Academic Press, pp. 118-119.
Pujado et al.; "Catalytic Conversion of L.P.G.", (1986), American Institute of Chem. Eng., pp. 1-19, drawings and tables.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Process for the production of nitriles does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Process for the production of nitriles, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Process for the production of nitriles will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-173407