Abstract:
In a process for preparing carboxylic esters by transesterification, a first feed stream comprising a first carboxylic ester, e.g. methyl formate, is introduced at the side into a reaction column at a first inlet located between the top and the bottom of the reaction column and a second feed stream comprising a first alcohol, e.g. ethanol, is introduced at the side into the reaction column at a second inlet located above the first inlet and the feed streams are reacted in a reaction zone of the reaction column to form a second carboxylic ester and a second alcohol. The first alcohol has a higher molecular weight than the second alcohol. A product fraction comprising the second carboxylic ester and unreacted first carboxylic ester is taken off at an offtake located above the second inlet. A bottom fraction comprising the second alcohol and unreacted first alcohol is taken off at the bottom of the reaction column. The product fraction is separated by distillation at a pressure which is different from the pressure in the reaction column into second carboxylic ester and a fraction containing unreacted first carboxylic ester and the fraction containing unreacted first carboxylic ester is at least partly recirculated to the reaction zone.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a reactor (1) in the form of a cylinder with a vertical longitudinal axis, for performing an autothermal gas-phase dehydrogenation of a hydrocarbon-containing gas stream (2) with an oxygen-containing gas stream (3), obtaining a reaction gas mixture, on a heterogeneous catalyst, which is designed as monolith (4), wherein one or more catalytically active zones (5) are arranged in the interior of the reactor (1), each zone comprising a packing of monoliths (4) stacked one next to another and/or one on top of another and wherein a mixing zone (6) with fixed installations is provided upstream of each catalytically active zone (5). The reactor has: - one or more feeder lines (7) at the lower end thereof for the hydrocarbon-containing gas stream (2) to be dehydrogenated; - one or more feeder lines (9) that can be regulated independently of one another for the oxygen-containing gas stream (3) flowing into each of the mixing zones (6), each feeder line (9) feeding one or more distributors (10); - and one or more discharge lines (11) at the upper end of the reactor (1) for the reaction gas mixture from the autothermal gas-phase dehydrogenation, wherein the interior wall of the reactor (1) is furnished with a continuous insulation layer (13, 14, 15) and wherein the accessibility of one or each of the plurality of catalytically active zones (5) from outside the reactor is guaranteed via - one or more manholes (12), or wherein one or each of the plurality of catalytically active zones (5), each comprising a respective packing of monoliths stacked one next to another and/or one on top of an other including - the mixing zone (6) with fixed installations provided upstream of each catalytically active zone (5) - the one or more feeder lines (9) controllable independently of one another - and the one or more distributors (10) that are each fed via a respective feeder line (9), are constructed as a structural element (24) that can be individually installed or uninstalled.
Abstract:
In a process for purifying carboxylic esters such as ethyl formate, a carboxylic ester to be purified is distilled in the presence of an extractant, preferably by (a) allowing vapour of the carboxylic ester to be purified to ascend in a distillation column; (b) conveying the extractant in countercurrent to the vapour in an extractive distillation zone; (c) taking off pure carboxylic ester above the extractive distillation zone. The extractant is selected, for example, from among diols, polyols, open-chain or cyclic amides.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a process for preventing fumaric acid deposits in the preparation of maleic anhydride, comprising the following steps: a) absorption of a C4-dicarboxylic acid or of a derivative from a crude product mixture into an organic solvent or water as an absorbent, b) removal of the C4-dicarboxylic acid or of a derivative from the absorbent, the absorbent thus recovered being catalytically hydrogenated fully or partly and recycled fully or partly into the absorption stage (a).