Process for recovering monoalkylbenzene
View Patent ↗The invention relates to a process for recovering monoalkylbenzene from a gas stream comprising oxygen and monoalkylbenzene, —wherein the gas stream comprising oxygen and monoalkylbenzene is contacted with a liquid stream comprising polyalkylbenzene, a compound comprising two phenyl groups connected to each other via a C 1 -C 3 alkylene bridge or a mixture thereof. Further, the present invention relates to a process for preparing alkyl phenyl hydroperoxide incorporating said monoalkylbenzene recovery.
1. A process for recovering monoalkylbenzene from a gas stream comprising oxygen and monoalkylbenzene, wherein the gas stream comprising oxygen and monoalkylbenzene is contacted with a liquid stream comprising polyalkylbenzene, a compound comprising two phenyl groups connected to each other via a C 1 -C 3 alkylene bridge or a mixture thereof.
2. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the monoalkylbenzene is a benzene which is substituted with an alkyl substituent which is a linear or branched C 1 -C 4 alkyl group, including ethyl, iso-propyl and sec-butyl.
3. The process according to claim 2 , wherein the monoalkylbenzene is ethylbenzene and the liquid stream comprises a mixture comprising triethylbenzene, tetraethylbenzene and 1,2-diphenylethane.
4. The process according to claim 3 , wherein the liquid stream originates from a process for preparing ethylbenzene from ethylene and benzene.
5. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the gas stream and the liquid stream are contacted counter-currently.
6. The process according to claim 5 , wherein the gas stream is fed to the bottom of a vertical column and the liquid stream is fed to the top of said column.
7. The process according to claim 1 , resulting in a liquid stream comprising monoalkylbenzene originating from the gas stream and polyalkylbenzene, a compound comprising two phenyl groups connected to each other via a C 1 -C 3 alkylene bridge or a mixture thereof and a gas stream comprising oxygen, wherein said liquid stream is separated into a fraction comprising monoalkylbenzene and a fraction comprising polyalkylbenzene, a compound comprising two phenyl groups connected to each other via a C 1 -C 3 alkylene bridge or a mixture thereof.
8. A process for preparing alkyl phenyl hydroperoxide comprising:
(i) reacting monoalkylbenzene into alkyl phenyl hydroperoxide using an oxygen containing gas as the oxidant;
(ii) separating the reaction mixture into a liquid stream comprising alkyl phenyl hydroperoxide and monoalkylbenzene and a gas stream comprising oxygen and monoalkylbenzene; and
(iii) contacting the gas stream comprising oxygen and monoalkylbenzene with a liquid stream comprising polyalkylbenzene, a compound comprising two phenyl groups connected to each other via a C 1 -C 3 alkylene bridge or a mixture thereof, resulting in a liquid stream comprising monoalkylbenzene originating from the gas stream and polyalkylbenzene, a compound comprising two phenyl groups connected to each other via a C 1 -C 3 alkylene bridge or a mixture thereof and a gas stream comprising oxygen.
9. The process according to claim 8 , wherein the liquid stream obtained in step (iii) is separated into a fraction comprising monoalkylbenzene and a fraction comprising polyalkylbenzene, a compound comprising two phenyl groups connected to each other via a C 1 -C 3 alkylene bridge or a mixture thereof.
10. The process according to claim 9 , wherein the fraction comprising monoalkylbenzene is recycled to step (i).
11. The process according to claim 9 , wherein the fraction comprising polyalkylbenzene, a compound comprising two phenyl groups connected to each other via a C 1 -C 3 alkylene bridge or a mixture thereof is recycled to step (iii).