Production of maleic anhydride comprises gas-phase oxidation of hydrocarbons in a reactor comprising at least two sequential cooled reaction zones at different temperatures

摘要

Production of maleic anhydride by gas-phase oxidation of C4+ hydrocarbons with oxygen in the presence of a volatile phosphorus compound and a heterogeneous vanadium/phosphorus/oxygen catalyst comprises performing the oxidation in a shell-and-tube reactor comprising at least two sequential cooled reaction zones, in which the first zone is at 350-450 deg C, the second and subsequent zones are at 350-480 and the temperature difference between the hottest and coolest zones is at least 2 deg C. An Independent claim is also included for apparatus for carrying out the process, comprising: a unit for the metered supply of hydrocarbon, oxygen-containing gas and optionally the phosphorus compound; a shell-and-tube reactor comprising at least two sequential cooled reaction zones with independent temperature control; and a unit for separating maleic anhydride and optionally oxygenated hydrocarbon by-products.