Allyl Alcohol Production Distillation for Catalyst Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current processes for producing allyl alcohol are inefficient in removing heavy impurities like allyl diacetate, which can deactivate solid acid catalysts used in subsequent hydrolysis steps, requiring additional steps for decomposition.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the reaction of propylene, acetic acid, and oxygen in the presence of a supported palladium catalyst, followed by distillation to separate streams, including a side draw for hydrolysis to allyl alcohol, where allyl diacetate is efficiently removed using an acetic acid vaporizer instead of a decomposition reactor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the liquid stream is directly hydrolyzed without removing allyl diacetate, then the hydrolysis process can proceed, but the solid acid catalyst will be deactivated by heavy impurities like allyl diacetate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by removing allyl diacetate through distillation before the hydrolysis step. The liquid stream undergoes distillation to separate and remove heavy impurities like allyl diacetate in the bottoms stream, ensuring that only purified allyl acetate proceeds to hydrolysis. This preliminary removal prevents catalyst deactivation and maintains continuous hydrolysis operation.
2Manufacturing precision
If a decomposition reactor is used to remove allyl diacetate, then heavy impurities can be eliminated, but the process complexity and equipment requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by using a distillation column that performs multiple functions: it separates propylene from the liquid stream, removes heavy impurities like allyl diacetate, and prepares the purified allyl acetate for hydrolysis. This single distillation unit replaces what would otherwise require separate decomposition reactors and additional processing equipment, simplifying the overall process while maintaining high impurity removal efficiency.
3Device complexity
If allyl diacetate is not removed from the liquid stream, then the process steps are minimized, but the solid acid catalyst used in hydrolysis will be deactivated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by implementing distillation as a pre-treatment step before hydrolysis. The distillation column removes allyl diacetate and other heavy impurities from the liquid stream, producing a purified feed for the hydrolysis reactor. This preliminary purification ensures catalyst performance is maintained throughout the hydrolysis process, avoiding deactivation issues that would arise from direct hydrolysis of the unprocessed liquid stream.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method effectively separates heavy impurities like allyl diacetate without the need for decomposition reactors, enhancing the economic efficiency of allyl alcohol production by directly integrating impurity removal into the distillation process.
Implementation Method 1
reacting propylene, acetic acid, and oxygen in the presence of a supported palladium catalyst to produce a reaction mixture comprising allyl acetate, acetic acid, acrolein, and allyl diacetate
Implementation Method 2
The reaction mixture is distilled to produce a vapor stream comprising propylene and a liquid stream comprising allyl acetate, acetic acid, acrolein, and allyl diacetate
Implementation Method 3
The bottoms stream is distilled to remove a heavies stream comprising allyl diacetate
Implementation Method 4
The side draw is hydrolyzed to produce allyl alcohol
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A process for producing allyl alcohol is disclosed. The process comprises reacting propylene, acetic acid, and oxygen to produce a reaction mixture. The reaction mixture is distilled to produce a vapor stream comprising propylene and a liquid stream comprising allyl acetate, acetic acid, acrolein, and allyl diacetate. The liquid stream is distilled to produce a lights stream comprising acrolein; a side draw comprising allyl acetate, acetic acid, and water; and a bottoms stream comprising acetic acid and allyl diacetate. The bottoms stream is distilled to remove a heavies stream comprising allyl diacetate. The side draw is hydrolyzed to produce allyl alcohol.