US 6,982,234 B2
Methods and apparatus for removing catalyst from oxidation reactor effluent
Fu-Ming Lee, Katy, Tex. (US); Randi Wright Wytcherley, Belgrade, Mont. (US); and Ronald G. Gualy, Houston, Tex. (US)
Assigned to GTC Technology Inc., Houston, Tex. (US)
Filed on Dec. 05, 2002, as Appl. No. 10/309,808.
Application 10/309808 is a continuation in part of application No. 09/870593, filed on Jun. 01, 2001, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/208666, filed on Jun. 01, 2000.
Prior Publication US 2003/0144555 A1, Jul. 31, 2003
Int. Cl. B01J 20/34 (2006.01); C07C 45/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 502—22 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for removing a catalyst from a reactor effluent formed by reacting a substance that is a cyclical hydrocarbon or a cyclical oxygenated hydrocarbon with an oxidant in the presence of the catalyst in an oxidation reactor, the method comprising the following steps:
cooling the reactor effluent;
separating the reactor effluent into polar and less-polar phases; and
transferring the less-polar phase to an ion exchange unit to remove the catalyst,
wherein the transferring step is performed prior to recovery of the bulk of any oxidized substance from the reactor effluent,
wherein the oxidized substance from the reactor effluent is found in the less-polar phase, and
wherein the substance is selected from the group consisting of cyclohexane, cyclohexanone, cyclohexanol, cyclohexylhydroperoxide, and mixtures thereof.