Process for the conversion of hydrocarbons to oxygenates

US8299133B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• BP Chemicals Limited · US

Inventors

• Benjamin Patrick Gracey · Hull, GB
• Michael Keith Lee · Beverley, GB

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 17, 2007
• Grant date: Oct 30, 2012
• Expiry date: Mar 22, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07C29/1518
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Process for converting a hydrocarbon feedstock into alcohol(s) wherein the hydrocarbons are first converted into syngas, which is converted into alcohols, by converting hydrocarbon feedstock in a steam reformer into stream A′ of carbon oxide(s), hydrogen and water, feeding stream A′ with hydrocarbon and oxygen feedstocks into an auto-thermal reformer to produce stream A, converting stream A in an oxygenate synthesis reactor into stream B containing methanol, ethanol, propanol(s), H2, C1-C3 alkanes, CO, CO2 and water, separating stream B, into stream C containing CO, C1-C3 alkanes, H2 and methanol, stream D containing CO2, recovering stream B containing the ethanol, propanol(s) and water, treating stream C to separate into a stream comprising CO and a stream comprising H2 and C1-C3 alkanes, reintroducing part of stream C with the stream comprising CO into the oxygenate synthesis reactor. At least part of stream D is reintroduced into the steam reformer.