MEK - Methods 2520of 2520production
MEK - Methods 2520of 2520production
MEK - Methods 2520of 2520production
There are a few processes listed below for the production of MEK.
OH O
The MEK concentration in the reaction mixture increases and reaches its maximum at
approximately 3500C. Copper, Zinc or Bronze are used as catalysts in gas phase
dehydrogenation. Commercially used catalysts are reactivated by oxidation, after 3 to 6
months use. They have a life expectance of several years.
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LIQUID PHASE OXIDATION OF BUTANE:
n – C4 H8 + ½ O2 CH3 – C – C2H5
95% conversion of n-butanes can be obtained with the MEK selectivity of about 86%.
The main disadvantage of this product is the formation of chlorinated butanones and b-
butryaldehyde and corrosion caused due to free acids.
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The vapor phase dehydrogenation process gives high conversion of 2-butanol and
high selectivity of MEK of about 95 mole%. Other advantages of this process include
better yield, longer catalyst life, simple production separation and lower energy
consumption.
Of all the processes, it has been found that dehydrogenation of 2-butabol has more
advantages and is more economical compared to other processes, so this process has been
selected for design in following text.
The cold feed of 2-butanol will be pumped from the feed tank to a steam heater
to a vertical thermosyphon vaporizer in which alcohol is vaporized. The thermosyphon
vaporizer will be heated by reaction products discharged from the reactor. The wet
alcohol vapor will be passed to a knock out drum to remove any entrained liquid. The
liquid separated will be recycled and the dry alcohol will be fed to the reactor via super
heaters heated by flue gas. The super heaters will be designed to raise the temperature of
alcohol vapors to 5000C at which temperature the vapors enter the reactor.
OH O
This vapor will be fed to the bottom of the packed bed absorption column where
MEK and 2-butanol will be absorbed in water. The water will be recycled from the
extraction column and its rate will be controlled to provide an aqueous effluent
containing 10% MEK. The hydrogen discharged from the top of the absorber will be
dried and fed to the furnace.
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The aqueous effluent from the absorber will be pumped into an extraction column
where it will be contacted with 1,1,2-Trichlorethane to extract MEK and alcohol. In
excess of about 95% of the MEK and alcohol will be extracted and remainder will be
recirculated back to the absorber.
The trichloroethane extract phase will be pumped to a distillation unit for the
separation unit for the separation of solvent, which is recycled. The distillate from this
column will be MEK and alcohol, which will be, mixed liquid product form the
condenser and this will be treated in a MEK product still for the purification of
MEK. The alcohol discharged from the bottom of this column will be replaced back to
alcohol feed tank. The MEK product will be cooled and stored.
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