Claims
- 1. A process for the recovery of combustible components of a gas stream containing the combustible components and oxygen as a gas phase comprising selective absorption of the combustible components in a solvent, and during the absorption dispersing the gas phase in a continuous liquid phase of the solvent.
- 2. The process of claim 1, further comprising carrying out the process continuously.
- 3. The process of claim 1, wherein gas bubbles are dispersed in the continuous phase of the solvent and have a diameter of 10 mm or less.
- 4. The process of claim 1, wherein gas bubbles are dispersed in the continuous phase of the solvent and have a diameter of 5 mm at most.
- 5. The process of claim 3, wherein gas bubbles are dispersed in the continuous phase of the solvent and have a diameter of 5 mm or less.
- 6. The process of claim 1, further comprising introducing the gas stream into an absorption unit at a lower section of the absorption unit and liquid solvent phase enters the absorption unit at a position upwards with respect to the location where the gas stream enters the absorption unit, whereby the gas stream and the solvent pass through the absorption unit counter-currently and the liquid solvent phase exits the absorption unit at a position below the entry of the gas stream into the absorption unit.
- 7. The process of claim 2, further comprising introducing the gas stream into an absorption unit at a lower section of the absorption unit and liquid solvent phase enters the absorption unit at a position upwards with respect to the location where the gas stream enters the absorption unit, whereby the gas stream and the solvent pass through the absorption unit counter-currently and the liquid solvent phase exits the absorption unit at a position below the entry of the gas stream into the absorption unit.
- 8. The process of claim 3, further comprising introducing the gas stream into an absorption unit at a lower section of the absorption unit and liquid solvent phase enters the absorption unit at a position upwards with respect to the location where the gas stream enters the absorption unit, whereby the gas stream and the solvent pass through the absorption unit counter-currently and the liquid solvent phase exists the absorption unit at a position below the entry of the gas stream into the absorption unit.
- 9. The process of claim 6, characterized in that the absorption unit is run as bubble column.
- 10. The process of claim 7, characterized in that the absorption unit is run as bubble column.
- 11. The process of claim 8, characterized in that the absorption unit is run as bubble column.
- 12. The process of claim 1, characterized in that the volume of head space above the liquid level of the continuous phase is reduced by displacers.
- 13. The process of claim 2, characterized in that the volume of head space above the liquid level of the continuous phase is reduced by displacers.
- 14. The process of claim 6, wherein the gas stream exiting the liquid solvent phase is diluted with an inert gas to the extent that oxygen concentration is below the explosion limit.
- 15. The process of claim 7, wherein the gas stream exiting the liquid solvent phase is diluted with an inert gas to the extent that oxygen concentration is below the explosion limit.
- 16. The process of claim 9, wherein the gas stream exiting the liquid solvent phase is diluted with an inert gas to the extent that oxygen concentration is below the explosion limit.
- 17. The process of claim 12, wherein the gas stream exiting the liquid solvent phase is diluted with an inert gas to the extent that oxygen concentration is below the explosion limit.
- 18. The process of claim 14, characterized in that the inert gas is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, water vapor, carbon dioxide and mixtures thereof.
- 19. The process of claim 6, wherein the gas stream is introduced into the absorption unit through a system of ring nozzles.
- 20. The process of claim 9, wherein the gas stream is introduced into the absorption unit through a system of ring nozzles.
- 21. The process of claim 12, wherein the gas stream is introduced into the absorption unit through a system of ring nozzles.
- 22. The process of claim 14, wherein the gas stream is introduced into the absorption unit through a system of ring nozzles.
- 23. The process of claim 6, wherein the flow conditions within the absorption unit are selected to provide gas bubbles dispersed in the continuous liquid phase having a diameter of 10 mm or less.
- 24. The process of claim 9, wherein the flow conditions within the absorption unit are selected to provide gas bubbles dispersed in the continuous liquid phase having a diameter of 10 mm or less.
- 25. The process of claim 12, wherein the flow conditions within the absorption unit are selected to provide gas bubbles dispersed in the continuous liquid phase having a diameter of 10 mm or less.
- 26. The process of claim 14, wherein the flow conditions within the absorption unit are selected to provide gas bubbles dispersed in the continuous liquid phase having a diameter of 10 mm or less.
- 27. The process of claim 18, wherein the flow conditions within the absorption unit are selected to provide gas bubbles dispersed in the continuous liquid phase having a diameter of 10 mm or less.
- 28. The process of claim 6, wherein the absorption unit comprises heat exchange means and/or gas dispersing means.
- 29. The process of claim 9, wherein the absorption unit comprises heat exchange means and/or gas dispersing means.
- 30. The process of claim 12, wherein the absorption unit comprises heat exchange means and/or gas dispersing means.
- 31. The process of claim 14, wherein the absorption unit comprises heat exchange means and/or gas dispersing means.
- 32. The process of claim 18, wherein the absorption unit comprises heat exchange means and/or gas dispersing means.
- 33. The process of claim 28, characterized in that sieve trays are positioned within the absorption unit.
- 34. The process of claim 1, wherein the gas stream is the gaseous effluent of an oxidation process using peroxide compounds.
- 35. The process of claim 1, wherein the solvent is an organic solvent selected from alcohols, aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons and ketones.
- 36. A process for the epoxidation of propene comprising forming an epoxidation reaction mixture by reacting propene with hydrogen peroxide in an alcoholic solvent in the presence of a catalyst, separating a gas stream comprising unreacted propene, propene oxide and oxygen from the decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide from the epoxidation reaction mixture and recovering combustible components in said gas stream by absorption in a solvent, whereby said gas stream is dispersed in a continuous liquid phase of the absorption solvent.
- 37. The process of claim 36, wherein recovery of combustible components uses the same alcoholic solvent as in the epoxidation.
- 38. The process of claim 37, wherein the solvent is methanol.
- 39. The process of claim 37, wherein the liquid solvent phase comprising recovered combustible components is either recycled to the epoxidation or is passed to a working up stage downstream from the epoxidation.
- 40. The process according to claim 3, wherein the gas bubbles have a diameter of 2 to 10 mm.
- 41. The process according to claim 19, wherein said ring nozzles have orifices with a cross section in the size range of 0.2 to 2 mm.
- 42. The process according to claim 33, wherein said sieve trays have orifice cross sections of 0.2 to 2 mm.
- 43. The process according to claim 1, wherein no inert gas is introduced during the absorption.
REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of provisional application No. 60/298,377 which is relied on and incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60298377 |
Jun 2001 |
US |