Preparation of n-pentanal from low-butene reaction feed

Abstract

The invention is concerned with the issue of how to produce n-pentanal by hydroformylation from feedstock mixtures comprising a small proportion of n-butene and a large proportion of n-butane. Specifically, solutions for further optimizing established processes for hydroformylation of such low-butene mixtures in terms of material utilization are sought. The present invention has for its object to enhance the material utilization of the feedstock mixture in the production of n-pentanal from feedstock mixtures having a small proportion of n-butene and a large proportion of n-butane. The process shall be capable of economic operation on an industrial scale. In particular an existing oxo plant shall be honed to achieve better raw material utilization. This object is achieved by a combination of a hydroformylation and a dehydrogenation, wherein said combination has the special feature that the dehydrogenation is arranged after the hydroformylation in the downstream direction and is thus markedly smaller than conventional dehydrogenations provided upstream. A skillful product removal effectively removes contaminants formed in the process.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to the problem of how n-valeraldehyde can be prepared by hydroformylation from a feed mixture comprising a small proportion of n-butenes and a large proportion of n-butanes. In particular, solutions were sought for how existing processes for the hydroformylation of such low-butene mixtures could be further optimized in terms of material utilization. Background technique [0002] The classes of substances discussed in this context are essentially alkenes (olefins), alkanes (paraffins), aldehydes and alcohols. These terms are used here corresponding to the terms commonly used in chemistry. [0003] In organic chemistry, classes of substances are usually classified and named by their number of carbon atoms. Here, prefix the relevant substance class with C n , where n is the corresponding number of carbon atoms in the substance. If mentioning e.g. C 4 Alkenes, then this refers to the four isomeric alkenes having four carb...

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Problems solved by technology

[0029] There is therefore also the practical problem of pollutants that require complex and expensive removal when the dehydrogenation is arranged downstream of the hydroformylation

Furthermore, even with world-scale oxo plants, it is almost impossible to operate a conventional-scale dehydrogenation unit at only close to full capacity

[0030] In conclusion, it can be stated that dehydrogenation and hydroformylation or a combination of hydroformylation and dehydrogenation are not implemented industrially because of incompatibility of industrial orders of magnitude and because of incompatible specifications of the products and reactants of the respective processes , thus requiring expensive intermediate removal

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