Prevention of catalyst attrition and tar formation in manufacture of maleic anhydride
US5877331A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 12, 1997 |
| Grant date | Mar 2, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 12, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S502/523
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Improved methods and apparatus for manufacture of maleic anhydride by catalytic oxidation of n-butane or other hydrocarbon having four carbon atoms in a straight chain over a fixed catalyst bed comprising a phosphorus vanadium oxide catalyst. Movement of catalyst bodies with respect to each other and with respect to the walls of the reaction chamber is restrained so as to prevent the catalyst bodies from abrading against each other or the reactor chamber walls in a manner that would cause formation of catalyst fines. Methods and apparatus are also provided for removal of fines from a fixed catalyst bed. The methods of the invention are effective to prevent loss of catalyst from a tubular reactor, and to control degradation of solvent absorbent in a process in which maleic anhydride is separated from the reaction gas by absorption into such a solvent.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.