| US 7,550,643 B2 | ||
| Isobutane alkylation | ||
| William C. Pfefferle, Madison, Conn. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Precision Combustion, Inc., North Haven, Conn. (US) | ||
| Filed on Apr. 27, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/115,512. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/566126, filed on Apr. 28, 2004. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2005/0245782 A1, Nov. 03, 2005 | ||
| This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. | ||
| Int. Cl. C07C 2/54 (2006.01); C07C 2/58 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 585—720 [585/722] | 3 Claims |
| 1. A method of operating a fixed-bed alkylation reactor having at least one catalytic flow channel comprising:
a) obtaining a feed stream comprising isobutane admixed with an amount of an olefin lower than that required for significant
polymerization;
b) passing the feed stream into the catalytic flow channel wherein the catalytic flow channel defines a mass-transfer-limiting
boundary layer limiting the rate of mass transfer of olefin to the catalyst surface to a value lower than that required for
significant polymerization;
c) contacting the feed stream with an alkylation catalyst positioned on the catalyst surface beneath the mass-transfer limiting
boundary layer, thereby reacting isobutane with the olefin; and
d) producing an alkylate product; wherein the catalytic flow channel defining a monolith having an upstream inner surface
having no active alkylation catalyst and a downstream inner surface comprising an active alkylation catalyst positioned thereon.
|