Process for the oxidation of hydrocarbons
A method for oxidizing hydrocarbons, in particular saturated hydrocarbons, for producing peroxides, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes and/or diacids is described. Also described, is a method for oxidizing a cycloaliphatic saturated hydrocarbon using molecular oxygen for producing ketones/alcohols, and more precisely for oxidizing cyclohexane into cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone using molecular oxygen.
1. A process for oxidation of a saturated cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon via molecular oxygen, the process comprising:
oxidizing a saturated cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon via molecular oxygen, wherein gaseous effluents comprising saturated cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon are produced;
contacting the gaseous effluents with an oil in the liquid state in order to absorb the saturated cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon from such effluents, wherein the absorption produces a hydrocarbon loaded oil;
extracting hydrocarbon from the hydrocarbon loaded oil by treating the resulting hydrocarbon loaded oil by water steam stripping;
condensing the vapor recovered from the steam stripping; and
separating the hydrocarbon by settling, wherein the gaseous effluents are contacted with the oil at a temperature of from 20° C. to 25° C.
2. The process as defined by claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon is selected from the group consisting of cyclohexane, a cyclooctane, a cyclododecane, and a decalin.
3. The process as defined by claim 1 , wherein the oil is selected from the group consisting of a paraffinic oil, a naphthenic oil, and a mixture thereof.
4. The process as defined by claim 1 , wherein the process is used for oxidation of a saturated hydrocarbon to hydro-peroxide, alcohol and/or ketone.
5. The process as defined by claim 1 , wherein the process is used for oxidation, via oxygen, of cyclohexane to adipic acid.