WO1996033012A1 - Process for the regeneration of a catalyst - Google Patents
Process for the regeneration of a catalyst Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1996033012A1 WO1996033012A1 PCT/US1996/004718 US9604718W WO9633012A1 WO 1996033012 A1 WO1996033012 A1 WO 1996033012A1 US 9604718 W US9604718 W US 9604718W WO 9633012 A1 WO9633012 A1 WO 9633012A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- catalyst
- catalyst particles
- reactor
- recited
- used catalyst
- Prior art date
Links
- 239000003054 catalyst Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 101
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 32
- 230000008929 regeneration Effects 0.000 title description 4
- 238000011069 regeneration method Methods 0.000 title description 4
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 57
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 18
- FPYJFEHAWHCUMM-UHFFFAOYSA-N maleic anhydride Chemical compound O=C1OC(=O)C=C1 FPYJFEHAWHCUMM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 230000001590 oxidative effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 27
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 claims description 23
- 239000012495 reaction gas Substances 0.000 claims description 13
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 10
- 229930195733 hydrocarbon Natural products 0.000 claims description 5
- 150000002430 hydrocarbons Chemical class 0.000 claims description 5
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000004215 Carbon black (E152) Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 125000004432 carbon atom Chemical group C* 0.000 claims description 4
- LJYCJDQBTIMDPJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N [P]=O.[V] Chemical class [P]=O.[V] LJYCJDQBTIMDPJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- IJDNQMDRQITEOD-UHFFFAOYSA-N n-butane Chemical compound CCCC IJDNQMDRQITEOD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 16
- -1 vanadium-phosphorus compound Chemical class 0.000 abstract description 3
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 description 23
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 9
- 239000001273 butane Substances 0.000 description 6
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 6
- OFBQJSOFQDEBGM-UHFFFAOYSA-N n-pentane Natural products CCCCC OFBQJSOFQDEBGM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 230000003197 catalytic effect Effects 0.000 description 5
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 5
- 229910052720 vanadium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
- LEONUFNNVUYDNQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N vanadium atom Chemical compound [V] LEONUFNNVUYDNQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 5
- NBIIXXVUZAFLBC-UHFFFAOYSA-N Phosphoric acid Chemical compound OP(O)(O)=O NBIIXXVUZAFLBC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- GNTDGMZSJNCJKK-UHFFFAOYSA-N divanadium pentaoxide Chemical compound O=[V](=O)O[V](=O)=O GNTDGMZSJNCJKK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 239000010419 fine particle Substances 0.000 description 4
- 229910052698 phosphorus Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- 239000011574 phosphorus Substances 0.000 description 4
- MUBZPKHOEPUJKR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Oxalic acid Chemical compound OC(=O)C(O)=O MUBZPKHOEPUJKR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- OAICVXFJPJFONN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Phosphorus Chemical compound [P] OAICVXFJPJFONN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- HEMHJVSKTPXQMS-UHFFFAOYSA-M Sodium hydroxide Chemical compound [OH-].[Na+] HEMHJVSKTPXQMS-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 3
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000012798 spherical particle Substances 0.000 description 3
- CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon dioxide Chemical compound O=C=O CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- OAKJQQAXSVQMHS-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrazine Chemical compound NN OAKJQQAXSVQMHS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- VEXZGXHMUGYJMC-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrochloric acid Chemical compound Cl VEXZGXHMUGYJMC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicium dioxide Chemical compound O=[Si]=O VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- GWEVSGVZZGPLCZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Titan oxide Chemical compound O=[Ti]=O GWEVSGVZZGPLCZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229910000147 aluminium phosphate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 238000009792 diffusion process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 description 2
- AKEJUJNQAAGONA-UHFFFAOYSA-N sulfur trioxide Chemical compound O=S(=O)=O AKEJUJNQAAGONA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- VHUUQVKOLVNVRT-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ammonium hydroxide Chemical compound [NH4+].[OH-] VHUUQVKOLVNVRT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- UGFAIRIUMAVXCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon monoxide Chemical compound [O+]#[C-] UGFAIRIUMAVXCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000002411 adverse Effects 0.000 description 1
- 150000001412 amines Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- QGZKDVFQNNGYKY-UHFFFAOYSA-N ammonia Natural products N QGZKDVFQNNGYKY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052797 bismuth Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052796 boron Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000001569 carbon dioxide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910002092 carbon dioxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910002091 carbon monoxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000000969 carrier Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000012018 catalyst precursor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000006555 catalytic reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052804 chromium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000003426 co-catalyst Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052681 coesite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052906 cristobalite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000002050 diffraction method Methods 0.000 description 1
- XPPKVPWEQAFLFU-UHFFFAOYSA-J diphosphate(4-) Chemical compound [O-]P([O-])(=O)OP([O-])([O-])=O XPPKVPWEQAFLFU-UHFFFAOYSA-J 0.000 description 1
- 235000011180 diphosphates Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000004817 gas chromatography Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052735 hafnium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 150000004820 halides Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 229910052736 halogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 150000002367 halogens Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 229910052739 hydrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000001257 hydrogen Substances 0.000 description 1
- 125000004435 hydrogen atom Chemical class [H]* 0.000 description 1
- 229910052742 iron Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052744 lithium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052748 manganese Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052750 molybdenum Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052759 nickel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000003960 organic solvent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000006408 oxalic acid Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 1
- JKJKPRIBNYTIFH-UHFFFAOYSA-N phosphanylidynevanadium Chemical compound [V]#P JKJKPRIBNYTIFH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000011148 porous material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002243 precursor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005070 sampling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052710 silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000000377 silicon dioxide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011949 solid catalyst Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052682 stishovite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052718 tin Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052719 titanium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052905 tridymite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052725 zinc Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052726 zirconium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- B01J38/00—Regeneration or reactivation of catalysts, in general
- B01J38/04—Gas or vapour treating; Treating by using liquids vaporisable upon contacting spent catalyst
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- B01J27/00—Catalysts comprising the elements or compounds of halogens, sulfur, selenium, tellurium, phosphorus or nitrogen; Catalysts comprising carbon compounds
- B01J27/28—Regeneration or reactivation
- B01J27/285—Regeneration or reactivation of catalysts comprising compounds of phosphorus
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C07C—ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
- C07C51/00—Preparation of carboxylic acids or their salts, halides or anhydrides
- C07C51/16—Preparation of carboxylic acids or their salts, halides or anhydrides by oxidation
- C07C51/21—Preparation of carboxylic acids or their salts, halides or anhydrides by oxidation with molecular oxygen
- C07C51/215—Preparation of carboxylic acids or their salts, halides or anhydrides by oxidation with molecular oxygen of saturated hydrocarbyl groups
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y02P20/00—Technologies relating to chemical industry
- Y02P20/50—Improvements relating to the production of bulk chemicals
- Y02P20/584—Recycling of catalysts
Definitions
- the present invention is related to a process for treating a catalyst used in a process for the preparation of maleic anhydride by oxidizing a hydrocarbon having four carbon atoms in a fluidized bed reactor when the activity of the catalyst has decreased during use.
- maleic anhydride is prepared by oxidizing a hydrocarbon having four carbon atoms using a vanadium - phosphorus oxide catalyst, often called a V-P-O catalyst, in a fluidized bed reactor.
- a problem is that the catalytic activity decreases with time. Then, if the reaction temperature is raised to maintain the same level of conversion, the yield of maleic anhydride decreases.
- various processes have been tried for the regeneration of the catalyst.
- the known methods include increasing the valence of the vanadium to 3.9 to 4.6 using sulfur trioxide, by which the catalytic activity is partly regenerated (US Patent No.
- Hei-5-329381 discloses a method where the catalyst particles used in a fluidized bed reactor are de-agglomerated or a method where the surface of the catalyst particles in a fluidized bed reactor is re-exposed, wherein a high speed gas is blown onto the catalyst particles while they are in a fluidized state in a fluidized bed reactor whereby the surface of the particles is polished due to the collision of the particles.
- a method is disclosed where the catalyst is taken out of a fluidized bed reactor and then crushed to expose the active surface of the catalyst which is then put back into the reactor.
- a purpose of the present invention is to provide an improved process for the efficient regeneration of a V-P-O type catalyst to improve conversion, yield and selectivity.
- the present invention provides a process for improving the activity of a catalyst used in a process for the preparation of maleic anhydride by oxidizing a hydrocarbon having four carbon atoms, wherein the catalyst comprises oxide compounds of vanadium and phosphorus, and wherein at least a part of the catalyst particles are removed from the reactor, the less desirable catalyst particles having a flake-like configuration which have accumulated are separated and the desirable catalyst particles having the normal, generally spherical-like configuration are returned to the reactor.
- the process may also include the step of replacing the reaction gases in the reactor with nitrogen or air before the catalyst particles are removed from the reactor or the step of replacing the reaction gas that has been removed from the reactor with the catalyst particles also with nitrogen or air prior to the separation step.
- Fig. 1 is a graph illustrating the particle size distributions of the catalyst particles.
- Fig. 2 shows the structure of the catalyst particles before the classification.
- Fig. 3 shows the structure of the classified coarse powder.
- Fig. 4, 5 and 6 all show the structure of classified fine powders.
- the catalyst used in the invention comprises oxide compounds of vanadium and phosphorus, hereinafter referred to as a V-P-O catalyst, where the activity of the catalyst has decreased during use.
- the catalyst contains crystalline vanadium - phosphorus mixed oxides as an active component where an atomic ratio of phosphorus to vanadium (P/V) is preferably 0.8 to 2.0 /1 , more preferably 1 to 1 .5 /1 .
- one such catalyst has a main crystalline component of divanadyl pyrophosphate.
- the catalyst may or may not contain carriers such as SiO 2 , A1 2 O 3 , and TiO 2 .
- the catalyst may also contain elements such as Li, B, Si, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Zr, Mo, Sn, Hf and Bi as a co-catalyst component.
- V-P-O catalysts may be prepared by known methods, for example, a method where a catalyst precursor is prepared by reducing divanadium pentaoxide with hydrochloric acid, oxalic acid, hydrazine, etc. in the presence of phosphoric acid, which is then calcined (JP Application Laid-Open No. Sho-54-120273/1979 and USP No. 4,085, 1 22); and a method where divanadium pentaoxide is reduced in a substantially anhydrous organic solvent, which is then heated in the presence of phosphoric acid to obtain a precursor which is then calcined (JP Publication Sho-57-8761 /1982 and JP Publication Hei-1 - 50455/1 989).
- Separation of the flaky catalyst particles from spherical catalyst particles is carried out preferably in a dry process.
- the dry process for the separation is carried out preferably using the force of air, more preferably using air streams in combination with centrifugal force, inertial force or gravity.
- a classifier where classification is carried out using the action of centrifugal force and air streams.
- Such classifiers include those generally known as turbo classifiers, microprex, multiprex zigzag classifiers, super separators, accurecut, etc. In classification using a screen, it is difficult to separate the flaky catalyst efficiently and selectively.
- fine particulate, spherical catalyst may be simultaneously separated and removed together with the flaky catalyst.
- the separation equipment is preferably operated such that most of the flaky catalyst is removed, as observed in microscopic photographs as described below. Also, the proportion of fine spherical particles removed to the flaky particles removed should be minimized. If the flaky catalyst is insufficiently removed, there is less of an increase in the activity and selectivity of the catalyst. Meanwhile, if too large a proportion of the spherical catalyst particles are removed, a large proportion of the desired catalyst is discarded, which is uneconomical.
- the composition of the gas flow used in the separation process is not particularly limited as long as it does not cause adverse effects, such as a decrease in the activity of the catalyst.
- a gas mixture may be used. Air is the least expensive but nitrogen, oxygen, rare gases, carbon dioxide, steam or hydrocarbons alone or as a mixture thereof can be used.
- a gas mixture of butane and air or a reactor outlet gas may also be used.
- the reaction gas in the reactor may be replaced with other gases such as the aforesaid gases before the catalyst is taken out of the reactor.
- reaction gas accompanying the catalyst particles taken out of the reactor may be replaced with other gases before the separation and removal treatment is carried out.
- the pressure in the separation treatment is not particularly limited. Operations are easier with a pressure of at least atmospheric pressure.
- the temperature is not limited and may be room temperature. Alternatively, the treatment may be carried out at a temperature which is approximately equal to the reaction temperature so the treated catalyst is already at the reaction temperature when it is reintroduced into the reactor.
- the step of taking the catalyst out of the fluidized bed reactor, the step of treating it for separation and the step of putting it back into the fluidized bed reactor may each be carried out continuously or batchwise.
- a sample catalyst was a V-P-O catalyst which had been used for about two years in a reaction where n-butane was air oxidized into maleic anhydride in a fluidized bed reactor whereby its activity had decreased over time.
- the catalyst was sampled from an outlet gas from the fluidized catalyst bed after passing through a cyclone.
- a MELVERNSystem 3601 based on a laser light diffraction method, the particle size distributions were determined for the catalyst before the classification and for the coarse powder and the fine powder obtained from the classification. The results are as shown in Figure 1 .
- the coarse powder obtained by the classification contained almost no particles smaller than 1 3 micron and had an average particle size somewhat larger than that before the treatment. Meanwhile, most of the fine powder obtained by the classification had a particle size of 1 to 13 microns.
- MAH was 14 mole% and the selectivity to MAH was 63 mole %. It is seen that the conversion was very low with the fine powder, compared to the sample catalyst before the classification, even though the average particle size of the fine powder was smaller. In the reaction for forming MAH, there is a general tendency that the selectivity is higher as the conversion is lower. However, in this Comparison, the selectivity was low, compared to that with the catalyst before the treatment even though the conversion was lower.
- MAH was 28 mole % and the selectivity to MAH was 71 mole %. That is, the conversion was improved, compared to the result with the catalyst before the classification shown in Comparison 1 . Moreover, it is seen that the selectivity to MAH was also improved, even though the conversion was high compared to that with the catalyst before the classification. Compared to the results in Comparison 2 for the fine powder, the conversion and the selectivity in the present invention are much higher and the yield of MAH was doubled.
- a V-P-O catalyst which had been used for about two years in a reaction where n-butane was air oxidized to prepare maleic anhydride in a fluidized bed reactor whereby its activity had decreased was sampled from a sampling opening located approximately at the center of the catalyst bed.
- One hundred grams of this catalyst were classified using the same apparatus as in Example 1 at room temperature, a rotor rotation of 3500 rpm, air in the amount of 2.0 m 3 /min. and a channel air pressure of 2.0 kgf/cm 2 . There was obtained 99 g of coarse powder and 1 g of fine powder.
- FIG 5 A scanning electron microscopic photograph of the fine powder obtained is shown in Figure 5.
- a large amount of flaky particles as well as fine particles were observed in the fine powder obtained by the classification, similar to Figure 4.
- the photograph in Figure 6 is of a lower magnification than that in Figure 5. It can be seen that the amount of particles with spherical shape is very small. Therefore, in the sample catalyst used in this Example, the flaky particles were selectively separated in the fine powder in the classification using the air classifier.
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- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
- Furan Compounds (AREA)
- Combined Means For Separation Of Solids (AREA)
- Low-Molecular Organic Synthesis Reactions Using Catalysts (AREA)
- Catalysts (AREA)
Abstract
It is intended to improve an activity of a catalyst used in a process for the preparation of maleic anhydride by oxidizing n-butane in a fluidized bed reactor, wherein the catalyst comprises vanadium-phosphorus compound oxides. The catalyst particles are taken out of the reactor and flaky catalyst present together with the catalyst particles is separated and removed.
Description
Process for the Regeneration of a Catalyst
The present invention is related to a process for treating a catalyst used in a process for the preparation of maleic anhydride by oxidizing a hydrocarbon having four carbon atoms in a fluidized bed reactor when the activity of the catalyst has decreased during use.
Background of the Invention
It has been known that maleic anhydride is prepared by oxidizing a hydrocarbon having four carbon atoms using a vanadium - phosphorus oxide catalyst, often called a V-P-O catalyst, in a fluidized bed reactor. In this process, a problem is that the catalytic activity decreases with time. Then, if the reaction temperature is raised to maintain the same level of conversion, the yield of maleic anhydride decreases. Accordingly, various processes have been tried for the regeneration of the catalyst. For example, the known methods include increasing the valence of the vanadium to 3.9 to 4.6 using sulfur trioxide, by which the catalytic activity is partly regenerated (US Patent No. 4, 1 23,442); removing inactive vanadium from the catalyst using the action of a halogen or an organic halide (US Patent No. 4,020, 1 74); treating the catalyst with a reducing gas such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide, etc. (UK Patent No. 4,020, 1 74); bringing the catalyst into contact with aqueous ammonia or an amine (UK Patent No. 1 ,51 2,305); and adding a phosphorus compound to the catalyst (US Patents No. 3,296,282 and No. 3,474,041 and UK Patent No. 1 ,291 ,354). However, these methods are unsatisfactory. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei-5-329381 discloses a method where the catalyst particles used in a fluidized bed reactor are de-agglomerated or a method where the surface of the catalyst particles in a fluidized bed reactor is re-exposed, wherein a high speed gas is blown onto the catalyst particles while they are in a
fluidized state in a fluidized bed reactor whereby the surface of the particles is polished due to the collision of the particles. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei-4-316567, a method is disclosed where the catalyst is taken out of a fluidized bed reactor and then crushed to expose the active surface of the catalyst which is then put back into the reactor.
Summary of the Invention
A purpose of the present invention is to provide an improved process for the efficient regeneration of a V-P-O type catalyst to improve conversion, yield and selectivity. The present invention provides a process for improving the activity of a catalyst used in a process for the preparation of maleic anhydride by oxidizing a hydrocarbon having four carbon atoms, wherein the catalyst comprises oxide compounds of vanadium and phosphorus, and wherein at least a part of the catalyst particles are removed from the reactor, the less desirable catalyst particles having a flake-like configuration which have accumulated are separated and the desirable catalyst particles having the normal, generally spherical-like configuration are returned to the reactor. The process may also include the step of replacing the reaction gases in the reactor with nitrogen or air before the catalyst particles are removed from the reactor or the step of replacing the reaction gas that has been removed from the reactor with the catalyst particles also with nitrogen or air prior to the separation step.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is a graph illustrating the particle size distributions of the catalyst particles.
Fig. 2 shows the structure of the catalyst particles before the classification. Fig. 3 shows the structure of the classified coarse powder.
Fig. 4, 5 and 6 all show the structure of classified fine powders.
Description of the Preferred Embodiments
The catalyst used in the invention comprises oxide compounds of vanadium and phosphorus, hereinafter referred to as a V-P-O catalyst, where the activity of the catalyst has decreased during use.
The catalyst contains crystalline vanadium - phosphorus mixed oxides as an active component where an atomic ratio of phosphorus to vanadium (P/V) is preferably 0.8 to 2.0 /1 , more preferably 1 to 1 .5 /1 . For example, one such catalyst has a main crystalline component of divanadyl pyrophosphate. The catalyst may or may not contain carriers such as SiO2, A12O3, and TiO2. In addition, the catalyst may also contain elements such as Li, B, Si, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Zr, Mo, Sn, Hf and Bi as a co-catalyst component.
These V-P-O catalysts may be prepared by known methods, for example, a method where a catalyst precursor is prepared by reducing divanadium pentaoxide with hydrochloric acid, oxalic acid, hydrazine, etc. in the presence of phosphoric acid, which is then calcined (JP Application Laid-Open No. Sho-54-120273/1979 and USP No. 4,085, 1 22); and a method where divanadium pentaoxide is reduced in a substantially anhydrous organic solvent, which is then heated in the presence of phosphoric acid to obtain a precursor which is then calcined (JP Publication Sho-57-8761 /1982 and JP Publication Hei-1 - 50455/1 989).
It is known that in a heterogeneous catalytic reaction using a solid catalyst, diffusion into the inside of the pores of the catalyst has a large influence on the catalytic activity. In the case where the resistance to diffusion is large, the contribution of the catalyst to the reaction is less near the center of the particle than near the surface. A smaller catalyst particle has a larger proportion of the volume near the outer surface relative to the total volume. Accordingly, in general, the
catalyst having a smaller particle size of the generally spherical configuration has a higher reaction activity. However, catalyst particles which are flaky in configuration have a lower activity which reduces the overall activity and selectivity of the catalyst mass even though the flaky particles are much smaller than the initial size of the fluidized bed catalyst particles.
Separation of the flaky catalyst particles from spherical catalyst particles is carried out preferably in a dry process. In a wet process, the quality of the catalyst may be changed because the catalytic component is eluted during the separation treatment. The dry process for the separation is carried out preferably using the force of air, more preferably using air streams in combination with centrifugal force, inertial force or gravity. Particularly preferred is a classifier where classification is carried out using the action of centrifugal force and air streams. Such classifiers include those generally known as turbo classifiers, microprex, multiprex zigzag classifiers, super separators, accurecut, etc. In classification using a screen, it is difficult to separate the flaky catalyst efficiently and selectively.
In the above treatment, fine particulate, spherical catalyst may be simultaneously separated and removed together with the flaky catalyst. The separation equipment is preferably operated such that most of the flaky catalyst is removed, as observed in microscopic photographs as described below. Also, the proportion of fine spherical particles removed to the flaky particles removed should be minimized. If the flaky catalyst is insufficiently removed, there is less of an increase in the activity and selectivity of the catalyst. Meanwhile, if too large a proportion of the spherical catalyst particles are removed, a large proportion of the desired catalyst is discarded, which is uneconomical.
The composition of the gas flow used in the separation process is not particularly limited as long as it does not cause adverse effects, such as a decrease in the activity of the catalyst. Also, a gas mixture
may be used. Air is the least expensive but nitrogen, oxygen, rare gases, carbon dioxide, steam or hydrocarbons alone or as a mixture thereof can be used. A gas mixture of butane and air or a reactor outlet gas may also be used. For the sake of safety, the reaction gas in the reactor may be replaced with other gases such as the aforesaid gases before the catalyst is taken out of the reactor. Alternately, reaction gas accompanying the catalyst particles taken out of the reactor may be replaced with other gases before the separation and removal treatment is carried out.
The pressure in the separation treatment is not particularly limited. Operations are easier with a pressure of at least atmospheric pressure. The temperature is not limited and may be room temperature. Alternatively, the treatment may be carried out at a temperature which is approximately equal to the reaction temperature so the treated catalyst is already at the reaction temperature when it is reintroduced into the reactor. The step of taking the catalyst out of the fluidized bed reactor, the step of treating it for separation and the step of putting it back into the fluidized bed reactor may each be carried out continuously or batchwise.
The present invention will be illustrated more specifically by means of the following examples. Maleic anhydride is represented as "MAH" hereinafter.
In the examples, the conversion of n-butane, the yield of MAH and the selectivity to MAH are calculated as follows:
Conversion of n-butane = (molar concentration of butane at the inlet of the reactor minus the molar concentration of butane at the outlet of the reactor) ÷ (the molar concentration of butane at the inlet of the reactor) x 100
Yield of MAH = (moles of MAH generated per unit time) ÷ (moles of butane feed per unit time) x 100
Selectivity to MAH = (yield of MAH) ÷ (conversion of n-butane) x 100
Example 1
A sample catalyst was a V-P-O catalyst which had been used for about two years in a reaction where n-butane was air oxidized into maleic anhydride in a fluidized bed reactor whereby its activity had decreased over time. The catalyst was sampled from an outlet gas from the fluidized catalyst bed after passing through a cyclone.
One hundred grams of the sample catalyst were classified using a precision air classifier TC-1 5N available from Nisshin Engineering Company at room temperature, a rotor rotation of 3500 rpm, air flow in the amount of 2.9 m3/min. and channel air pressure of 2.0 kgf/cm2. There was obtained 85 g of coarse powder and 15 g of fine powder.
Using a wet type particle size distribution measuring apparatus, a MELVERNSystem 3601 based on a laser light diffraction method, the particle size distributions were determined for the catalyst before the classification and for the coarse powder and the fine powder obtained from the classification. The results are as shown in Figure 1 . The coarse powder obtained by the classification contained almost no particles smaller than 1 3 micron and had an average particle size somewhat larger than that before the treatment. Meanwhile, most of the fine powder obtained by the classification had a particle size of 1 to 13 microns.
Each sample was observed with a scanning electron microscope and recorded in a photograph. The catalyst before the classification was shown in Figure 2; the coarse powder in Figure 3; and the fine powder in Figure 4. Although spherical particles, flaky particles and fine particles were present as a mixture in the catalyst before the treatment,
the fine particles were removed almost completely and the proportion of the flaky particles was reduced in the coarse powder obtained by the classification treatment. In the fine powder obtained by the classification, there were observed a large amount of flaky particles together with fine particles, but almost no particles with spherical shapes were observed. These results show that the sample catalyst with the decreased activity contained the flaky particles together with the spherical particles and that the flaky particles were selectively classified into the fine powder using the air classifier. The activity test was then carried out as follows:
Comparison 1
One gram of the above sample catalyst before the classification was loaded into a fixed bed flow reactor. The reaction was carried out at atmospheric pressure, a GHSV of 1 500 hour"1, a reaction temperature of 430 °C and a n-butane concentration in air of 1 .5 mole %. Normal butane concentrations in the inlet gas and the outlet gas were determined quantitatively using gas chromatography showing a conversion of butane of 36 mole %. The resultant MAH was absorbed in water by introducing the outlet gas in 20 to 50 ml of water for 30 to 60 minutes, which was then titrated with an aqueous 0.1 N sodium hydroxide solution to obtain the yield of MAH. The yield of MAH was 24 mole %. The selectivity to MAH was 66 mole %.
Comparison 2
The activity was determined as in Comparison 1 with the exception that 1 g of the fine powder obtained in the above classification was used in place of 1 g of the sample catalyst before the classification. The conversion of n-butane was 22 mole %, the yield of
MAH was 14 mole% and the selectivity to MAH was 63 mole %.
It is seen that the conversion was very low with the fine powder, compared to the sample catalyst before the classification, even though the average particle size of the fine powder was smaller. In the reaction for forming MAH, there is a general tendency that the selectivity is higher as the conversion is lower. However, in this Comparison, the selectivity was low, compared to that with the catalyst before the treatment even though the conversion was lower.
Comparison 3
The activity was determined as in Comparison 1 with the exception that 1 g of the coarse powder obtained in the above classification was used in place of 1 g of the sample catalyst before the classification. The conversion of n-butane was 39 mole %, the yield of
MAH was 28 mole % and the selectivity to MAH was 71 mole %. That is, the conversion was improved, compared to the result with the catalyst before the classification shown in Comparison 1 . Moreover, it is seen that the selectivity to MAH was also improved, even though the conversion was high compared to that with the catalyst before the classification. Compared to the results in Comparison 2 for the fine powder, the conversion and the selectivity in the present invention are much higher and the yield of MAH was doubled.
These results show that the portion of a catalyst mass which is causing decreased catalytic activity may be selectively removed by classification and thereby increase the activity and the selectivity per unit weight of the catalyst.
Example 2
A V-P-O catalyst which had been used for about two years in a reaction where n-butane was air oxidized to prepare maleic anhydride in a fluidized bed reactor whereby its activity had decreased was sampled from a sampling opening located approximately at the center
of the catalyst bed. One hundred grams of this catalyst were classified using the same apparatus as in Example 1 at room temperature, a rotor rotation of 3500 rpm, air in the amount of 2.0 m3/min. and a channel air pressure of 2.0 kgf/cm2. There was obtained 99 g of coarse powder and 1 g of fine powder.
A scanning electron microscopic photograph of the fine powder obtained is shown in Figure 5. A large amount of flaky particles as well as fine particles were observed in the fine powder obtained by the classification, similar to Figure 4. The photograph in Figure 6 is of a lower magnification than that in Figure 5. It can be seen that the amount of particles with spherical shape is very small. Therefore, in the sample catalyst used in this Example, the flaky particles were selectively separated in the fine powder in the classification using the air classifier.
Claims
1 . A process for improving the activity of a used catalyst in a process for the preparation of maleic anhydride by oxidizing a hydrocarbon having four carbon atoms in a fluidized bed reactor, wherein said used catalyst comprises particles of vanadium-phosphorus oxide compounds and contains spherical catalyst particles and flaky catalyst particles, said process comprising the steps of removing at least a portion of said used catalyst particles from said reactor, separating at least a portion of said flaky catalyst particles from said spherical catalyst particles and returning said spherical catalyst particles to said reactor.
2. A process as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of separating comprises subjecting said used catalyst particles to centrifugal force and an air stream.
3. A process as recited in claim 1 wherein said used catalyst particles contain reaction gases and further including the step of removing said reaction gas from said used catalyst particles prior to said step of separating.
4. A process as recited in claim 3 wherein said step of removing said reaction gas comprises replacing said reaction gas with another gas.
5. A process as recited in claim 4 wherein said another gas is selected from nitrogen and air.
6. A process as recited in claim 2 wherein said used catalyst particles contain reaction gases and further including the step of removing said reaction gas from said used catalyst particles prior to said step of separating.
7. A process as recited in claim 6 wherein said step of removing said reaction gas comprises replacing said reaction gas with another gas.
8. A process as recited in claim 7 wherein said another gas is selected from nitrogen and air.
9. A process as recited in claim 3 wherein said reaction gas is removed from said used catalyst particles prior to removing said used catalyst particles from said reactor and comprises the step of replacing said reaction gas in said reactor with another gas.
10. A process as recited in claim 6 wherein said reaction gas is removed from said used catalyst particles prior to removing said used catalyst particles from said reactor and comprises the step of replacing said reaction gas in said reactor with another gas.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU54435/96A AU5443596A (en) | 1995-04-17 | 1996-04-05 | Process for the regeneration of a catalyst |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP7/114033 | 1995-04-17 | ||
| JP7114033A JPH08281126A (en) | 1995-04-17 | 1995-04-17 | Processing method of used catalyst |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO1996033012A1 true WO1996033012A1 (en) | 1996-10-24 |
Family
ID=14627357
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US1996/004718 WO1996033012A1 (en) | 1995-04-17 | 1996-04-05 | Process for the regeneration of a catalyst |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPH08281126A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU5443596A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1996033012A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7195783B2 (en) | 1999-07-09 | 2007-03-27 | Fx Life Sciences International Gmbh | Hypericin and hypericum extract: specific T-type calcium channel blocker, and their use as T-type calcium channel targeted therapeutics |
Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2688401A (en) * | 1949-09-29 | 1954-09-07 | Standard Oil Co | Flotation of active catalyst from spent catalyst |
-
1995
- 1995-04-17 JP JP7114033A patent/JPH08281126A/en active Pending
-
1996
- 1996-04-05 WO PCT/US1996/004718 patent/WO1996033012A1/en active Search and Examination
- 1996-04-05 AU AU54435/96A patent/AU5443596A/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2688401A (en) * | 1949-09-29 | 1954-09-07 | Standard Oil Co | Flotation of active catalyst from spent catalyst |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7195783B2 (en) | 1999-07-09 | 2007-03-27 | Fx Life Sciences International Gmbh | Hypericin and hypericum extract: specific T-type calcium channel blocker, and their use as T-type calcium channel targeted therapeutics |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU5443596A (en) | 1996-11-07 |
| JPH08281126A (en) | 1996-10-29 |
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