Process for producing hydrocarbon partial oxidation products

摘要

Hydrocarbon derivatives are produced by contacting a hydrocarbon with oxygen obtained from an air separation unit in the presence of a partial oxidation reaction catalyst. After separation of the hydrocarbon derivative from the reactor effluent, unreacted hydrocarbon is recovered from the effluent by adsorbing the unreacted hydrocarbon onto an adsorbent at superatmospheric pressure and removing the adsorbed hydrocarbon from the adsorbent by depressurizing said adsorbent and purging the adsorbent with nitrogen obtained from the air separation unit. The recovered unreacted hydrocarbon is recycled to the partial oxidation reactor.