Benzene; Propylene

Cumene

To produce cumene by reaction of benzene and propylene in the presence of solid phophoric acid catalyst.

Description: Propylene and benzene are fed to the reactor (1), where propylene is consumed. The reaction products are sent to rectifiers (2,3) where propane is removed. Benzene is removed in the recycle column (4) and recycled to the reactor. The cumene column (5) separates the 99.9 wt% pure cumene product from heavy aromatics. The heavy aromatics can be used either as a high-octane gasoline blending component (109 RON) or can be combined with additional benzene and sent to the transalkylation section (6) of the plant where the diisopropyl benzene is converted back to cumene.

Operating conditions: Temperatures and pressures are moderate, permitting the use of conventional carbon steel equipment.

Yields: Yields of cumene are typically 97.3 wt% and 94.6 wt% with and without transalkylation, respectively, based on the propylene in the feed and on benzene chemical consumption.

Component Names and Formula