Abstract: A tertiary butyl alcohol charge stock typically contaminated with from about 0.5 to about 2 wt. % of formates and peroxides, is passed through an oxygenates decomposition reactor containing a bed of a decomposition catalyst comprising rhodium, platinum, palladium or mixture thereof at a temperature of from about 100 to about 280C to decompose the peroxides and formates, and to dehydrate a portion of the tertiary butyl alcohol to form isobutylene and water to thereby form a non-corrosive tertiary butyl alcohol feedstock that is substantially free from formates that is suitable for reaction with methanol in a methyl tertiary butyl ether etherification reactor to form a non-corrosive methyl tertiary butyl ether etherification reaction product from which methyl tertiary butyl ether can be recovered.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 18, 1999
Date of Patent:
October 17, 2000
Assignee:
Huntsman ICI Chemical LLC
Inventors:
John Frederick Knifton, John Ronald Sanderson, William Alan Smith, James Douglas Goshinska, Mark Allen Mueller
Abstract: An impure methyl tertiary butyl ether product contaminated with isobutylene, methanol and water is purified by continuous counter-current contact with water and an isobutylene fraction in an extraction zone comprising a counter-current contact tower to provide an overhead raffinate comprising isobutylene, methyl tertiary butyl ether and a minor amount of water and an extract comprising methanol, water and a minor amount of methyl tertiary butyl ether; the overhead raffinate being separated in a methyl tertiary butyl ether purification distillation zone into a lighter distillation fraction comprising isobutylene and water and a heavier distillation fraction consisting essentially of methyl tertiary butyl ether; the lighter distillation fraction being decanted to remove water and to provide a distillate isobutylene fraction that is returned to the contact tower as the isobutylene fraction.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 1, 1994
Date of Patent:
May 16, 2000
Assignee:
Huntsman ICI Chemicals LLC
Inventors:
Michael Warren Peters, Yu-Hwa Edward Sheu
Abstract: Oxygenate impurities are removed from an organic chemical feed or stream by treatment with an aqueous reducing agent and aqueous base, accompanied by separation. An aqueous solution of reducing agent and an aqueous solution of base are typically introduced sequentially into the organic chemical stream, where they may react with any oxygenate impurities present. The reaction products of the oxygenate impurities and aqueous reducing agent and aqueous base are water soluble, and are typically removed in sequential fashion via any suitable separation means. For example, oxygenate impurities such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, and methyl formate may be removed from a propylene stream by treating the stream sequentially with aqueous sodium bisulfite and aqueous sodium hydroxide, accompanied by separation of the oxygenate impurity reaction products in coalescers.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 20, 1997
Date of Patent:
March 14, 2000
Assignee:
Huntsman ICI Chemicals LLC
Inventors:
Peter S. Morford, Timothy L. Lambert, William K. Culbreth, III
Abstract: Peroxides are prepared from organic compounds and oxygen in a reaction vessel by introducing organic compound and oxygen to the reaction vessel and by simultaneously withdrawing a first liquid product stream from adjacent the top of the reactor and a second liquid product stream from adjacent the bottom of the reaction vessel. Suitable organic compounds include, but are not limited to, alkanes and all aryl compounds.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 18, 1998
Date of Patent:
February 8, 2000
Assignee:
Huntsman ICI Chemicals LLC
Inventors:
William K. Culbreth, III, Mark E. Taylor, Kyle L. Preston, Mark A. Mueller