Process for the production of petrochemicals

摘要

A petrochemical (i.e. a hydrocarbon derivative) is produced by the vapour phase reaction of a hydrocarbon with air in the presence of a suitable catalyst. The petrochemical is removed from the reactor effluent, and part or all of the remaining petrochemical-free gas stream is passed through a hydrocarbon-selective adsorbent, which adsorbs hydrocarbon from the gas stream, leaving a hydrocarbon-depleted waste gas. Hydrocarbon is purged from the adsorbent with air, and the air-hydrocarbon mixture is recycled to the partial oxidation reactor. The purge air, and preferably both the purge air and the petrochemical-free gas stream are dried by passage through beds of zeolite 3A prior to being introduced into the hydrocarbon-selective adsorbent, and the beds of zeolite 3A are regenerated by passing heated hydrocarbon-depleted waste gas therethrough. IMAGE