Methyl Mercaptan Production via H2S Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current processes for producing methyl mercaptan from hydrocarbons and sulfur result in low selectivities and high production costs due to the formation of hydrogen sulfide as a coproduct, which requires costly processing and reduces economic efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the hydrogenation of carbon disulfide in the presence of alkali metal molybdates or tungstates catalysts, followed by reaction with oxygen-containing compounds like aldehydes or carbon oxides, utilizing hydrogen sulfide to form methyl mercaptan, thereby increasing selectivity and reducing the need for costly hydrogen sulfide processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If methyl mercaptan is produced from hydrocarbons and sulfur, then production can proceed continuously, but hydrogen sulfide is formed as a coproduct requiring costly processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful hydrogen sulfide coproduct into a useful reactant by introducing oxygen-containing compounds (CO, CO2, aldehydes, alcohols, ethers) that react with H2S to produce additional methyl mercaptan. This transforms the harmful byproduct into a valuable resource, eliminating disposal costs and improving overall process efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the reaction system by adding oxygen-containing compounds to the traditional hydrocarbon-sulfur system. This parameter change enables the conversion of H2S into additional product, fundamentally altering the reaction pathway and product distribution to favor methyl mercaptan formation.
2Ease of manufacture
If selectivity for methyl mercaptan is increased, then production costs decrease, but current processes still achieve only moderate selectivities
Solution Approach 1:
By converting H2S into additional methyl mercaptan through reaction with oxygen-containing compounds, the process increases overall selectivity and reduces waste. This eliminates the need for costly H2S processing while maximizing the value of all reactants, thereby reducing production costs and improving manufacturing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding or separately processing H2S as a harmful byproduct, the patent recovers it by reacting with oxygen-containing compounds to produce additional methyl mercaptan. This recovery approach maximizes atom efficiency and reduces waste disposal costs, directly improving both selectivity and production economics.
3Reliability
If hydrogen sulfide is processed through costly methods, then safety is improved, but economic efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for costly H2S processing by converting it into useful product in-situ. This approach maintains safety by preventing H2S accumulation while simultaneously improving economic efficiency by eliminating disposal costs and producing additional methyl mercaptan from what would otherwise be waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The process makes the system self-sufficient by using the H2S coproduct as a reactant for additional product formation. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external H2S processing facilities and reduces dependency on costly auxiliary systems, thereby improving both safety and economic efficiency.
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
The process enhances the overall selectivity for methyl mercaptan production, reduces raw material costs, and eliminates the need for costly hydrogen sulfide processing, improving economic efficiency and safety by minimizing hydrogen sulfide holdup.
Implementation Method 1
hydrogenation of carbon disulfide in the presence of a catalyst based on alkali metal molybdates or alkali metal tungstates
Implementation Method 2
hydrogenation of carbon disulfide in the presence of a catalyst based on alkali metal molybdates or alkali metal tungstates which are applied to a support
Implementation Method 3
reaction of the reaction mixture containing hydrogen sulfide formed in this reaction with at least one of the compounds selected from the group of aldehydes, ethers, alcohols, CO, CO2, CO+CO2 and COS in the presence of a metal oxide catalyst based on alkali molybdates or alkali tungstates
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for the continuous production of methyl mercaptan by converting a mixture, which contains carbon-containing compounds, with sulfur and hydrogen, wherein the resulting compounds of carbon disulfide and hydrogen sulfide are subsequently converted to methyl mercaptan.