FLEXIBLE CHEMICAL PRODUCTION PLATFORM

1 . A system for the production of C 3 and C 4 products, comprising:

an epoxide source;

a carbon monoxide (CO) source;

a central reactor, comprising:

an inlet configured to receive epoxide from the epoxide source and CO from the CO source,

a central reaction zone configured to convert at least some of the epoxide to a beta lactone, and

an outlet configured to provide an outlet stream comprising the beta lactone,

two or more of (i)-(iii):

(i) a first C 3 reactor, comprising:

an inlet configured to receive the outlet stream comprising beta lactone of the central reactor,

a first C 3 reaction zone configured to convert at least some of the beta lactone to a first C 3 product, and

an outlet configured to provide an outlet stream comprising the first C 3 product,

(ii) a second C 3 reactor, comprising:

an inlet configured to receive the outlet stream comprising beta lactone of the central reactor,

a second C 3 reaction zone configured to convert at least some of the beta lactone to a second C 3 product, and

an outlet configured to provide an outlet stream comprising the second C 3 product, and

(iii) a first C 4 reactor, comprising:

an inlet configured to receive the outlet stream comprising beta lactone of the central reactor,

a first C 4 reaction zone configured to convert at least some of the beta lactone to a first C 4 product, and

an outlet configured to provide an outlet stream comprising the first C 4 product, and

a controller to independently modulate production of the beta lactone and each of the products,

provided that the first C 3 product differs from the second C 3 product.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the epoxide is ethylene oxide (EO) and the beta lactone is beta propiolactone (BPL).

3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising;

an ethylene source;

an oxidative reactor comprising:

an inlet configured to receive ethylene,

an oxidative reaction zone configured to convert at least some of the ethylene to EO, and

an outlet configured to provide an outlet stream comprising the EO, and feed the outlet stream comprising EO to the inlet of the central reactor.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first C 3 product and the second C 3 product are independently selected from an α,β-unsaturated acid, an α,β-unsaturated ester, an α,β-unsaturated amide, a polymer and 1,3-propanediol (PDO).

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first C 3 product is PPL, and the system further comprises:

a third C 3 reactor comprising:

an inlet configured to receive the outlet stream comprising PPL of the first C 3 reactor,

a third C 3 reaction zone configured to convert at least some of the PPL to a third C 3 product, and

an outlet configured to provide an outlet stream comprising the third C 3 product.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the third C 3 product is acrylic acid (AA).

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first C 4 product is succinic anhydride, and the system further comprises:

a second C 4 reactor comprising:

an inlet configured to receive the outlet stream comprising succinic anhydride of the first C 4 reactor,

a second C 4 reaction zone configured to convert at least some of the succinic anhydride to a second C 4 product, and

an outlet configured to provide an outlet stream comprising the second C 4 product.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the second C 4 product is succinic acid, 1,4 butanediol (BDO), tetrahydrofuran (THF) or gamma butyrolactone (GBL).

9 . A system, comprising:

an ethylene source;

a carbon monoxide (CO) source;

an alcohol source;

an oxidative reactor comprising:

an inlet configured to receive ethylene from the ethylene source,

an oxidative reaction zone configured to convert at least some of the ethylene to ethylene oxide (EO), and

an outlet configured to provide an EO stream comprising the EO;

a central reactor comprising:

an inlet configured to receive EO from the EO stream of the oxidative reactor and CO from the CO source,

a central reaction zone configured to convert at least some of the EO to beta propiolactone (BPL), and

an outlet configured to provide a BPL stream comprising the BPL;

a first C3 reactor comprising:

an inlet configured to receive BPL from at least a portion of the BPL stream of the central reactor,

a first C3 reaction zone configured to convert at least some of the BPL to a polypropiolactone (PPL), and

an outlet configured to provide a PPL stream comprising the PPL;

a second C3 reactor comprising;

an inlet configured to receive PPL from the PPL stream of the first C3 reactor,

a second C3 reaction zone configured to convert at least some of the PPL to AA, and

an outlet configured to provide an AA stream comprising the AA;

a third C3 reactor comprising:

an inlet configured to receive BPL from at least a portion of the BPL stream of the central reactor, and an alcohol from the alcohol source,

a third C3 reaction zone configured to convert at least some of the BPL to acrylate esters, and

an outlet configured to provide an acrylate ester stream comprising the acrylate esters; and

a controller to independently modulating production of the EO, BPL, PPL, AA, and acrylate esters.

10 . A system, comprising:

an ethylene source;

a carbon monoxide (CO) source;

an alcohol source;

an oxidative reactor comprising:

an inlet configured to receive ethylene from the ethylene source,

an oxidative reaction zone configured to convert at least some of the ethylene to ethylene oxide (EO), and

an outlet configured to provide an EO stream comprising the EO;

a central reactor comprising:

an inlet configured to receive EO from the EO stream of the oxidative reactor and CO from the CO source,

a central reaction zone configured to convert at least some of the EO to beta propiolactone (BPL), and

an outlet configured to provide a BPL stream comprising the BPL;

a first C3 reactor comprising:

an inlet configured to receive BPL from at least a portion of the BPL stream of the central reactor,

a first C3 reaction zone configured to convert at least some of the BPL to a polypropiolactone (PPL), and

an outlet configured to provide a PPL stream comprising the PPL;

a second C3 reactor comprising;

an inlet configured to receive BPL from at least a portion of the BPL stream of the central reactor,

a second C3 reaction zone configured to convert at least some of the BPL to AA, and

an outlet configured to provide an AA stream comprising the AA;

a third C3 reactor comprising:

an inlet configured to receive BPL from at least a portion of the BPL stream of the central reactor, and an alcohol from the alcohol source,

a third C3 reaction zone configured to convert at least some of the BPL to acrylate esters, and

an outlet configured to provide an acrylate ester stream comprising the acrylate esters; and

a controller to independently modulating production of the EO, BPL, PPL, AA, and acrylate esters.

11 . A system, comprising:

an ethylene source;

a carbon monoxide (CO) source;

an oxidative reactor comprising:

an inlet configured to receive ethylene from the ethylene source,

an oxidative reaction zone configured to convert at least some of the ethylene to ethylene oxide (EO), and

an outlet configured to provide an EO stream comprising the EO;

a central reactor comprising:

an inlet configured to receive EO from the EO stream of the oxidative reactor and CO from the CO source,

a central reaction zone configured to convert at least some of the EO to beta propiolactone (BPL), and

an outlet configured to provide a BPL stream comprising the BPL;

a first C3 reactor comprising:

an inlet configured to receive BPL from at least a portion of the BPL stream of the central reactor,

a first C3 reaction zone configured to convert at least some of the BPL to a polypropiolactone (PPL), and

an outlet configured to provide a PPL stream comprising the PPL;

a second C3 reactor comprising;

an inlet configured to receive PPL from the PPL stream of the first C3 reactor,

a second C3 reaction zone configured to convert at least some of the PPL to AA, and

an outlet configured to provide an AA stream comprising the AA;

a first C4 reactor comprising:

an inlet configured to receive BPL from at least a portion of the BPL stream of the central reactor, and carbon monoxide from the CO source,

a first C4 reaction zone configured to convert at least some of the BPL to succinic anhydride (SA), and

an outlet configured to provide a succinic anhydride stream comprising the succinic anhydride; and

a controller to independently modulating production of the EO, BPL, PPL, AA, and SA.

12 . A system, comprising:

an ethylene source;

a carbon monoxide (CO) source;

an alcohol source;

an oxidative reactor comprising:

an inlet configured to receive ethylene from the ethylene source,

an oxidative reaction zone configured to convert at least some of the ethylene to ethylene oxide (EO), and

an outlet configured to provide an EO stream comprising the EO,

a central reactor comprising:

an inlet configured to receive EO from the EO stream of the oxidative reactor and at least a portion of CO from the CO source,

a central reaction zone configured to convert at least some of the EO to beta propiolactone (BPL), and

an outlet configured to provide a BPL stream comprising the BPL;

a first C3 reactor comprising:

an inlet configured to receive BPL from at least a portion of the BPL stream of the central reactor,

a first C3 reaction zone configured to convert at least some of the BPL to a polypropiolactone (PPL), and

an outlet configured to provide a PPL stream comprising the PPL;

a second C3 reactor comprising;

an inlet configured to receive BPL from the BPL stream of the central reactor,

a second C3 reaction zone configured to convert at least some of the BPL to AA, and

an outlet configured to provide an AA stream comprising the AA;

a third C3 reactor comprising:

an inlet configured to receive BPL from at least a portion of the BPL stream of the central reactor, and an alcohol from the alcohol source,

a third C3 reaction zone configured to convert at least some of the BPL to acrylate esters, and

an outlet configured to provide an acrylate ester stream comprising the acrylate esters;

a first C4 reactor comprising:

an inlet configured to receive BPL from at least a portion of the BPL stream of the central reactor, and at least a portion of CO from the CO source,

a first C4 reaction zone configured to convert at least some of the BPL to succinic anhydride (SA), and

an outlet configured to provide a SA stream comprising the succinic anhydride; and

a controller to independently modulating production of the EO, BPL, PPL, AA, acrylate esters, and SA.

13 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising:

a hydrogen source; and

a second C4 reactor comprising:

an inlet configured to receive SA from the SA stream of the first C4 reactor,

a hydrogen inlet fed from the hydrogen source,

a second C4 reaction zone configured to hydrogenate at least a portion of the SA to provide a C4 product stream comprising 1,4 butanediol (BDO), tetrahydrofuran (THF), or gamma butyrolactone (GBL), or any combinations thereof.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to further modulate production of BDO, THF, and GBL.

15 . A method for converting an epoxide to two or more of: a first C 3 product, a second C 3 product, and a first C 4 product within an integrated system, the method comprising:

providing an inlet stream comprising an epoxide and carbon monoxide (CO) to a central reactor of the integrated system;

contacting the inlet stream with a carbonylation catalyst in a central reaction zone;

converting at least a portion of the epoxide to a beta lactone to produce an outlet stream comprising beta lactone;

(i) directing the outlet stream comprising beta lactone from the central reaction zone to a first C 3 reactor, and converting at least some of the beta lactone to a first C 3 product in the first C 3 reactor to produce an outlet stream comprising the first C 3 product, or

(ii) directing the outlet stream comprising beta lactone from the central reaction zone to a second C 3 reactor, and converting at least some of the beta lactone to a second C 3 product in the second C 3 reactor to produce an outlet stream comprising the second C 3 product, or

(iii) directing the outlet stream comprising beta lactone from the central reaction zone to a first C 4 reactor, and converting at least some of the beta lactone to a first C 4 product in the first C 4 reactor to produce an outlet stream comprising the first C 4 product,

provided that at least two of (i)-(iii) are selected; and

obtaining two or more of the first C 3 product, the second C 3 product, and the first C 4 product.

16 . A method for producing acrylic acid (AA) from ethylene in a single integrated system, the method comprising:

providing ethylene to an oxidative reactor that converts at least some of the ethylene to ethylene oxide (EO);

providing EO to a central reactor that converts at least some of the EO to beta propiolactone (BPL);

and at least one or both of (i) and (ii):

(i) providing BPL to a first reactor that converts at least some of the BPL to AA, and

(ii) providing BPL to a reactor that converts at least some of the BPL to polypropiolactone (PPL).

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein BPL is provided to a first reactor that converts at least some of the BPL, and the method further comprises isolating acrylic acid at a rate of about 200 to about 800 kilotons per annum (kta).

18 . A method, comprising:

providing an EO stream and a CO stream to a central reactor, wherein the EO stream comprises EO, and the CO stream comprises CO;

contacting the EO stream and the CO stream with a carbonylation catalyst in the central reactor;

converting at least a portion of the EO to produce a beta propiolactone (BPL) stream comprising BPL;

directing at least a portion of the BPL stream to a first C3 reactor;

converting at least portion of the BPL to polypropiolactone (PPL) in the first C3 reactor, to produce a PPL stream comprising the PPL from the first C3 reactor;

directing the PPL stream to a second C3 reactor;

converting at least a portion of the PPL to acrylic acid (AA) in the second C3 reactor, to produce an AA stream comprising the AA from the second C3 reactor;

directing at least a portion of the BPL stream to a third C3 reactor;

contacting the BPL stream in the third C3 reactor with an alcohol; and

converting at least a portion of the BPL to acrylate esters in the third C3 reactor, to produce an acrylate ester stream comprising the acrylate esters.

19 . A method, comprising:

providing an EO stream and a CO stream to a central reactor, wherein the EO stream comprises EO, and the CO stream comprises CO;

contacting the EO stream and the CO stream with a carbonylation catalyst in the central reactor;

converting at least a portion of the EO to produce a beta propiolactone (BPL) stream comprising BPL;

directing at least a portion of the BPL stream to a first C3 reactor;

converting at least portion of the BPL to polypropiolactone (PPL) in the first C3 reactor, to produce a PPL stream comprising the PPL from the first C3 reactor;

directing at least a portion of the BPL stream to a second C3 reactor;

converting at least a portion of the BPL to acrylic acid (AA) in the second C3 reactor, to produce an AA stream comprising the AA from the second C3 reactor;

directing at least a portion of the BPL stream to a third C3 reactor;

contacting the BPL stream with an alcohol in the third C3 reactor; and

converting at least a portion of the BPL to acrylate esters in the third C3 reactor, to produce an acrylate ester stream comprising the acrylate esters.

20 . A method, comprising:

providing an EO stream and a CO stream to a central reactor, wherein the EO stream comprises EO, and the CO stream comprises CO;

contacting the EO stream and the CO stream with a carbonylation catalyst in the central reactor;

converting at least a portion of the EO to produce a beta propiolactone (BPL) stream comprising BPL;

directing at least a portion of the BPL stream to a first C3 reactor;

converting at least portion of the BPL to polypropiolactone (PPL) in the first C3 reactor, to produce a PPL stream comprising the PPL from the first C3 reactor;

directing the PPL stream to a second C3 reactor;

converting at least some of the PPL to acrylic acid (AA) in the second C3 reactor, to produce an AA stream comprising the AA from the second C3 reactor;

directing at least a portion of the BPL stream to a first C4 reactor; and

converting at least some of the BPL to succinic anhydride (SA) in the first C4 reactor, to produce a succinic anhydride stream comprising the succinic anhydride from the first C4 reactor.

21 . A method, comprising:

providing an EO stream and a CO stream to a central reactor, wherein the EO stream comprises EO, and the CO stream comprises CO;

contacting the EO stream and at least a portion of the CO stream with a carbonylation catalyst in the central reactor;

converting at least a portion of the EO to produce a beta propiolactone (BPL) stream comprising BPL;

directing at least a portion of the BPL stream to a first C3 reactor;

converting at least portion of the BPL to polypropiolactone (PPL) in the first C3 reactor, to produce a PPL stream comprising the PPL from the first C3 reactor;

directing at least a portion of the BPL stream to a second C3 reactor;

converting at least a portion of the BPL to acrylic acid (AA) in the second C3 reactor, to produce an AA stream comprising the AA from the second C3 reactor;

directing at least a portion of the BPL stream to a third C3 reactor;

contacting the BPL stream with an alcohol in the third C3 reactor;

converting at least a portion of the BPL to acrylate esters in the C3 reactor, to produce an acrylate ester stream comprising the acrylate esters;

directing at least a portion of the BPL stream to a first C4 reactor;

contacting the BPL stream and at least a portion of the CO stream in the first C4 reactor; and

converting at least a portion of the BPL to succinic anhydride (SA) in the first C4 reactor, to produce a SA stream comprising the SA.

22 . The method claim 20 , further comprising:

directing the SA stream to a second C4 reactor;

contacting at the SA stream with hydrogen in the second C4 reactor; and

converting at least a portion of the SA to 1,4 butanediol (BDO), tetrahydrofuran (THF), or gamma butyrolactone (GBL), or any combinations thereof.