Dehydrogenation of alkanols to increase yield of aromatics

摘要

The present invention provides methods, reactor systems, and catalysts for increasing the yield of aromatic hydrocarbons produced while converting alkanols to hydrocarbons. The invention includes methods of using catalysts to increase the yield of benzene, toluene, and mixed xylenes in the hydrocarbon product.

主权项

1. A method of converting alkanols to aromatic hydrocarbons comprising:
partially dehydrogenating an alkanol feedstock comprising C1 to C6 alkanols in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst at a dehydrogenation temperature of between about 80° C. and 500° C. and a dehydrogenation pressure of between about atmospheric pressure and 1000 psig to produce hydrogen and an oxygenate mixture comprising unreacted C1 to C6 alkanols and one or more oxygenates selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids, esters and aldehydes, wherein at least one of the oxygenates has a H:Ceff ratio less than 1.6 and wherein the extent of partial dehydrogenation results in the oxygenate mixture having an H:Ceff ratio of between 1.0 and 1.5; and exposing the oxygenate mixture to a zeolite oxygenate conversion catalyst at an oxygenate conversion temperature between about 250° C. and 550° and an oxygenate conversion pressure between about atmospheric pressure and 1000 psig to produce aromatic hydrocarbons, wherein the carbon yield of aromatic hydrocarbons from the alkanol feedstock is greater than 40%.