Abstract: A method for purifying cumene may include splitting an alkylation reaction product into a first portion and a second portion; feeding the first portion as mostly a liquid into a benzene column; at least partially vaporizing the second portion in a heater; feeding the at least partially vaporized second portion into the benzene column. A method for purifying cumene may also include the steps of providing a benzene column and a cumene column; directing a liquid side draw from the benzene column to the cumene column, the liquid side draw being a liquid substantially free of DIPB; returning a benzene enriched vapor from the cumene column to the benzene column using an overhead line, the benzene enriched vapor having a higher concentration of benzene than the liquid side draw; and drawing purified cumene from the cumene column.

Abstract: Methods and systems for preparing acetone from cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) are disclosed. The disclosed methods involve cleaving CHP to form a cleavage product stream. In some embodiments, the cleavage product stream is separated into an overhead stream and a bottoms stream. The bottoms stream is neutralized, washed and then treated in a crude acetone column to provide a crude acetone stream. The overhead stream of the cleavage product is flashed forward in the process, bypassing the neutralization, washing, and crude acetone column and is then combined with the crude acetone stream. The combined acetone streams are provided to an acetone product column. According to some embodiments, the acetone product column comprises a side draw for obtaining a recycle acetone stream, which is recycled to the cleavage reactor(s). The recycle acetone side draw may be located lower on the acetone product column than the point from which product acetone is obtained.

Abstract: Methods and systems for preparing acetone from cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) are disclosed. The disclosed methods involve cleaving CHP to form a cleavage product stream. In some embodiments, the cleavage product stream is separated into an overhead stream and a bottoms stream. The bottoms stream is neutralized, washed and then treated in a crude acetone column to provide a crude acetone stream. The overhead stream of the cleavage product is flashed forward in the process, bypassing the neutralization, washing, and crude acetone column and is then combined with the crude acetone stream. The combined acetone streams are provided to an acetone product column. According to some embodiments, the acetone product column comprises a side draw for obtaining a recycle acetone stream, which is recycled to the cleavage reactor(s). The recycle acetone side draw may be located lower on the acetone product column than the point from which product acetone is obtained.

Abstract: Methods and systems for preparing acetone from cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) are disclosed. The methods and systems involve an acetone purification column configured to separate acetone from other components of the product/reactant stream. The acetone purification column is equipped with a side draw configured to route a portion of the column contents to a caustic treating vessel where the contents are reacted with a dilute aqueous alkaline solution to remove aldehydes from the acetone product. The contents of the caustic treating vessel are then routed back to the acetone purification column. Using a separate caustic treating vessel for the aldehydes removal provides increased contact time between the acetone product and the alkaline solution, thereby affording greater aldehydes removal.

Abstract: Methods and systems for removing volatile organic compounds from spent air are provided. The method can include oxidizing cumene in the presence of an oxidant to produce an oxidized product containing methanol and a spent air, separating the spent air from the oxidized product, contacting the spent air with an absorbent, an adsorbent, or a mixture thereof to remove at least a portion of any impurities in the spent air to produce a first purified air, and contacting the first purified air with a biological material to produce a treated air.

Abstract: Methods and systems for purifying a crude aniline. The method can include contacting a crude aniline that can include aniline, water, and cyclohexanone with a cation exchange resin to produce a cyclohexanone-lean product that contains less cyclohexanone than the crude aniline. The cation exchange resin can be a solid, a semi-solid, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Methods and systems for purifying a crude aniline. The method can include contacting a crude aniline that can include aniline, water, and cyclohexanone with a cation exchange resin to produce a cyclohexanone-lean product that contains less cyclohexanone than the crude aniline. The cation exchange resin can be a solid, a semi-solid, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Methods and systems for removing volatile organic compounds from spent air are provided. The method can include oxidizing cumene in the presence of an oxidant to produce an oxidized product containing methanol and a spent air, separating the spent air from the oxidized product, contacting the spent air with an absorbent, an adsorbent, or a mixture thereof to remove at least a portion of any impurities in the spent air to produce a first purified air, and contacting the first purified air with a biological material to produce a treated air.

Abstract: Methods and systems for removing volatile organic compounds from spent air are provided. The method can include oxidizing cumene in the presence of an oxidant to produce an oxidized product containing methanol and a spent air, separating the spent air from the oxidized product, contacting the spent air with an absorbent, an adsorbent, or a mixture thereof to remove at least a portion of any impurities in the spent air to produce a first purified air, and contacting the first purified air with a biological material to produce a treated air.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing low methanol concentration acetone are provided. The method can include oxidizing and cleaving cumene to produce a crude acetone product. The crude acetone product can be neutralized in a neutralization unit to produce a neutralized crude acetone product. The neutralized crude acetone product can be fractionated in an acetone fractionation column to produce an acetone product and an acetone bottoms product. Methanol can be removed from the acetone bottoms product to produce a methanol-depleted product. The methanol-depleted product can be introduced to the neutralization unit, a dephenolation unit, or both.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for separating propane and benzene from alkylation reaction products in cumene production. An integrated fractionation tower combines the functions of propane separation, recycle benzene recovery as well as system dewatering to eliminate the need for separate depropanizer and dehydration columns and thus save capital and operating expenses.