Ionic Liquid Dispersion for Hydrocarbon Isomerization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The separation of ionic liquids from hydrocarbons after chemical reactions is inefficient due to their immiscibility, requiring intensive stirring and subsequent separation challenges, which complicates the process and equipment design.
Innovation Solution
A chemical reaction process where the hydrocarbon is dispersed in an ionic liquid with a volume ratio of 2.5 to 4:1, allowing for improved space-time yield and reduced equipment needs, and reversing the dispersion direction post-reaction facilitates quicker phase separation and more efficient ionic liquid separation using coalescing filters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If intensive stirring is used to mix ionic liquid and hydrocarbon phases, then contact between phases is improved for catalysis, but separation after reaction becomes more difficult and equipment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional dispersion approach by dispersing the ionic liquid phase (A) in the hydrocarbon phase (B) rather than dispersing hydrocarbon in ionic liquid. This inversion causes the dispersed phase to be the one that needs to be separated after reaction, making separation easier since the continuous phase can drain more efficiently. The volume ratio of 2.5:1 to 4:1 (phase A to phase B) optimizes both reaction contact and separation performance.
2Reliability
If equal volumes of ionic liquid and hydrocarbon are used, then catalytic activity is maintained, but space-time yield is reduced and equipment size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the volume ratio parameter from the conventional 1:1 or slight excess of ionic liquid to a significant excess of ionic liquid (2.5:1 to 4:1 volume ratio of phase A to phase B). This parameter change increases the continuous phase volume, improving space-time yield and allowing smaller equipment while maintaining catalytic activity through the dispersed droplets.
3Productivity
If ionic liquid is dispersed in hydrocarbon phase, then reaction contact is improved, but separation efficiency decreases due to immiscibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inversion by making the ionic liquid phase the dispersed phase (A) in the hydrocarbon continuous phase (B), rather than the conventional approach. This ensures that after reaction, the dispersed droplets can be more easily separated from the continuous phase, improving separation efficiency while maintaining good reaction contact during the reaction phase.
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 approach enhances the space-time yield of hydrocarbon isomerization reactions, reduces equipment requirements, and simplifies the separation of ionic liquids from hydrocarbons, leading to more efficient and cost-effective process operations.
Implementation Method 1
Ionic liquids, in particular acidic ionic liquids, are suitable, among other things, as catalysts for the isomerization of hydrocarbons
Implementation Method 2
Ionic liquids on the one hand and hydrocarbons (organic phases) on the other hand are not miscible or only very difficult to mix; they form two separate phases
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a chemical conversion process, preferably an isomerization process, of at least one hydrocarbon in the presence of an ionic liquid. The chemical conversion process is carried out in a dispersion in which the hydrocarbon (phase (B)) is dispersed in the ionic liquid (phase (A)), the proportion by volume between phase (A) and phase (B) ranging from 2.5-4 to 1 [vol/vol].