Process for reducing emissions of volatile organic compounds from the ketonization of carboxylic acids

摘要

Disclosed is a process for reducing the emission of volatile organic compounds that are produced during the ketonization of carboxylic acids to ketones. The ketonization of carboxylic acids produces a gaseous by-product stream containing carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds. This gaseous by-product stream can be fed to a direct-fired furnace used to heat the ketonization reaction feed streams where the volatile organic compounds are destroyed by combustion in the furnace. The carbon dioxide stream further acts as a diluent for the fuel to the furnace.

主权项

1. A process for reducing the emission of volatile organic compounds from a ketonization process, comprising
(i). heating a vaporized feed stream comprising one or more carboxylic acids in a direct-fired furnace comprising a combustion zone to produce a superheated feed stream; (ii). contacting the superheated feed stream with a metal oxide catalyst to form a gaseous product mixture comprising one or more ketones, carbon dioxide, and one or more volatile organic compound by-products; (iii). separating the one or more ketones from the carbon dioxide and one or more volatile organic compound by-products; and (iv). feeding at least a portion of the carbon dioxide and the one or more volatile organic compound by-products to the combustion zone of the direct-fired furnace.