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Recent Developments in Fixed-bed Alkylation FBA™

Anders Bo Jensen, Haldor Topsøe A/S

Format:
Electronic (digital download/no shipping)

Associate Member, International Member, Petrochemical Member, Refining Member - $0.00
Government, NonMember - $25.00

Description:

The present generation of alkylation technologies applies hydrofluoric acid (HF) or sulphuric acid (H2SO4), which were introduced as catalysts for isobutane alkylation in the late thirties. They are well proven, but the handling of often very large quantities of these corrosive and/or toxic mineral acids has been the cause of safety and environmental concerns. In response to these concerns, considerable resources have been directed into the development of alternative, safer and more environmentally benign technologies. However, fulfilling these requirements will not alone pave the way for the next generation of alkylation technology. Equally important are highly competitive economics, simple operation, high feedstock flexibility and the ability to retrofit existing units. The Topsøe Fixed-bed Alkylation (FBA?) Technology offers a new approach to alkylation, which fulfils all of these essential requirements. The FBA? Technology applies a unique fixed-bed reactor system with a liquid superacid catalyst adsorbed on a solid support and confined within a mobile, well-defined catalyst zone. The reactor system features simple fixed-bed reactor design as if the catalyst was truly solid. Catalyst management is as easy as for a true liquid-phase system. Small amounts of passivated acid are selectively withdrawn from the reactor and recovered in a compact acid recovery unit without any interruption of the alkylation process. The result is a combination of the benefits of a liquid catalyst with the advantages of a fixed-bed reactor system. The on-site, integrated catalyst activity maintenance is a distinct feature of the FBA? process. The process has shown a continuous, stable operation in extensive pilot plant trials on industrial feedstocks and a high flexibility in terms of feedstock and operating conditions. The technology has potential applications reaching beyond isobutane alkylation. Recent developments and simplifications in the integrated acid handling have improved the economics of the FBA? technology to a level where it is considered very competitive to sulphuric acid alkylation.

Product Details:

Product ID: AM-03-24
Publication Year: 2003