Eastman Chemical Company
Method for catalytic production of refined enal products from an aldehyde feed stream using a single enclosed unit

Abstract:

Disclosed is a method for forming enals from corresponding alehydes in a single enclosed unit such as a divided wall reaction distillation unit. The method of the present invention includes (a) feeding an aldehyde feed stream comprising at least one aldehyde reactant into a reaction zone contained within said single enclosed unit; (b) reacting said at least one aldehyde reactant in said reaction zone in the presence of a catalyst to form an enal-containing reaction zone effluent comprising an enal; (c) purifying said enal-containing reaction zone effluent in a first separation zone within said single enclosed unit to form an enal-rich product mixture and a residual unreacted aldehyde mixture; and (d) collecting from said single enclosed unit at least a portion of said enal-rich product mixture. The method of the present invention results in high enal yields at a markedly reduced capital cost and energy consumption as compared to prior art processes.