Dimerization reaction

• • Catalyst: Zinc salt.

• Operating conditions: Higher pressure and moderate temperatures.

  Hydrogenation reaction

• • Catalyst: Nickel.

• Operating conditions: 100 atms and 150°C.

20.3.3 Process technology

Figure 20.2 Flow sheet of Oxo processing of olefins

To produce alcohols, the process consists of four basic steps namely hydroformylation, decatalization, hydrogenation and a separation network

Hydroformylation

• • Propylene and synthesis gas are separately compressed and sent to the hydroformylation reactor along with the Cobalt catalyst (i.e., Cobalt napthanate).

• The concentration of Cobalt Naphthenate is about 1 wt% Cobalt in the feed mixture.

• During the reaction at the existing operating conditions some Cobalt gets deposited on the porous carrier.

• Since the reaction is highly exothermic, there shall be cooling. To do so, cold liquid stream obtained after phase separation is recycled.

• The product liquid from the reactor is sent to a partial condenser followed by phase separator. The phase separator separates the unreacted synthesis gas (by considering the propylene in the feed stock to be limiting) and the liquid product stream. The liquid product stream is partially recycled back to the reactor to serve as a diluent to control the temperatures in the packed bed reactor.

• The liquid product stream consists of dissolved cobalt and hence it needs to be extracted back as the salt to enter the hydroformylation reactor.

• Therefore, the product stream is partially sent to the Decatalization process so as to remove the catalyst from the stream.