Abstract:
A PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF STYRENE BY CATALYTIC DEHYDROGENATION OF ETHYLBENZENE WITH OXYGEN OF A GAS CONTAINING MOLECULAR OXYGEN IN THE PRESENCE OF STEAM IN A FLUIDIZED BED AT A TEMPERATURE OF FROM 350* TO 600*C. USING A SOLID CATALYST AND REGENERATING THE CATALYST BY BURNING OFF THE CARBONACEOUS DEPOSITS, WHICH COMPRISES CARRYING OUT THE REGENERATION OF THE CATALYST, WITH INCOMPLETE BURNING OFF OF THE CARBONACEOUS DEPOSITS WITH OXYGEN OR A GAS CONTAINING MOLECULAR OXYGEN, ONLY TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT ON AN AVERAGE THE CATALYST CONTAINS DURING THE REACTION FROM 1 TO 30% BY WEIGHT OF THESE CARBONACEOUS DEPOSITS WITH REFERENCE TO THE CATALYST. STYRENE IS A VALUABLE MONOMER FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PLASTICS.
Abstract:
Phthalic anhydride is made by treating o-xylene together with chlorine, or a chlorine compound which is vaporous under the reaction conditions, the weight ratio of chlorine, or chlorine compound, to o-xylene being from 2:100 to 1:100,000, with oxygen, or an inert gas containing free oxygen, for 5 to 50 seconds in the presence of a fluidized catalyst, at 250 to 380 DEG C., which comprises a porous carrier whose pores contain a mixture which is liquid during the reaction and which comprises vanadium pentoxide and potassium pyrosulphate or vanadium pentoxide, potassium pyrosulphate and sodium pyrosulphate with, or without, other additives; the weight ratio of vanadium pentoxide and optional additives to vanadium pentoxide being below 2:3, and the weight ratio of vanadium pentoxide to alkali metal pyrosulphate being 1:20 to 3:10. Specified carriers are aluminium phosphate, silicates, silicic acid, especially silica gel, which is preferred, and active carbon. The preferred silica gel has a grain size of 20 to 300 microns, an internal surface of 300 to 360 sq. metres per gram and a mean pore radius of 50 to 80 rA. With active carbon of grain size 20 to 600 microns the temperature should not exceed 300 DEG to 340 DEG C. Preferably, in the preparation of the catalyst, a mixture of sodium and potassium pyrosulphates, containing 10 to 50% by weight of the sodium compound is used. Vanadium compounds may be used which are convertible to the pentoxide under the reaction conditions e.g. the trichloride, tri- and tetra-oxide and sulphate. Preferably the melt contains 10 to 20% by weight of vanadium pentoxide. Activators which aid in the oxidation of hydrogen chloride to chlorine are advantageously used in quantities of up to 5% by weight of the melt. Indicated activators are compounds, especially oxides, of iron, nickel and cobalt and particularly of cerium, copper and manganese. Phosphoric acid, molybdenium trioxide and/or tungsten trioxide may also be present or formed in situ. Silver oxide may be present. Advantageously sulphur trioxide is present. The sulphur trioxide may be generated in situ e.g. from thiophene or carbon disulphide. Preferably 25 to 50% by weight of melt is used in the catalyst. The preferred temperature is 270 to 350 DEG C. A residence time of 8 to 30 seconds is preferred. Indicated chlorine compounds are hydrogen chloride, ammonium chloride, nitrosyl chloride, thionyl chloride, alkyl chlorides, aryl chlorides, aralkyl chlorides and carboxylic acid chlorides of fatty acids or of aryl mono- or dicarboxylic acids or aralkyl-carboxylic acids, preferred being o-xylyl chloride, o-xylylene dichloride or o-xylylidene dichloride. Pressures of up to 25 atmospheres may be used. Chlorine may be introduced in an inert gas e.g. nitrogen. Examples are provided. Specifications 906,311, 908,823 and 941,293 are referred to.
Abstract:
In a process for the production of high-purity non-yellowing phthalic anhydride by oxidation of o-xylene with oxygen or gases containing oxygen in molecular form in the gas phase at 250 DEG to 600 DEG C. and with residence times of 0.5 to 50 seconds, with or without the co-employment of bromine or a volatile bromine compound, in contact with a catalyst containing vanadium oxide, followed by purification by crystallization and distillation the crude phthalic anhydride is first recrystallized from o-xylene and then fractionally distilled and the mother liquor obtained in the recrystallization is used for the oxidation. Preferably, the recrystallized phthalic anhydride is washed with 500 to 1200 grms. of pure xylene per kilogramme phthalic anhydride and the washing solution obtained may be used for next recrystallization. The fractional distillation is preferably carried out at 10 to 400 mm. Hg at temperatures of from 134 DEG to 257 DEG C. using columns having 5 to 30 theoretical trays.
Abstract:
Oxo aldehydes containing iron pentacarbonyl are purified more simply and economically by distilling them in the presence of 0.01 to 0.10 cubic meter of air per g of iron pentacarbonyl.