Ke E Zhang

US Patent:

20200181042, Jun 11, 2020

Filed:

Feb 9, 2017

Appl. No.:

16/074220

Inventors:

- Baytown TX, US
- Atlanta GA, US
Jeevan S. ABICHANDANI - Houston TX, US
Dana L. PILLIOD - League City TX, US
John R. PORTER - Friendswood TX, US
Anthony GO - Houston TX, US
Sankar NAIR - Atlanta GA, US
Ke ZHANG - Medford MA, US

International Classification:

C07C 5/27
C07C 7/12
C07C 7/04
C07C 7/00
B01J 20/22
B01J 20/16
B01J 29/70
B01J 35/10
B01J 35/00
B01D 15/18
B01D 3/14

Abstract:

Para-xylene is separated from a mixture of xylenes and ethylbenzene by a separation process. An ortho-selective adsorbent is used to reduce the ortho-xylene concentration of the xylenes, prior to contact of the xylenes and ethylbenzene with a para-selective adsorbent. The stream rich in ortho-xylene may be isomerized in the liquid phase to increase the amount of para-xylene therein. The para-xylene-depleted stream may be treated in the vapor phase to remove the ethylbenzene and then subjected to isomerization in the liquid phase to produce a stream having a higher than equilibrium amount of para-xylene.

US Patent:

20180215684, Aug 2, 2018

Filed:

Jul 29, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/747951

Inventors:

- Baytown TX, US
- Atlanta GA, US
Dana L. PILLIOD - League City TX, US
Robert G. TINGER - Friendswood TX, US
Anthony GO - Houston TX, US
Ke ZHANG - Medford MA, US
Sankar NAIR - Atlanta GA, US
Jason GEE - Houston TX, US
David SHOLL - Marietta GA, US

International Classification:

C07C 7/12
C07C 7/00
C07C 7/04
C07C 5/27
B01D 15/18
B01D 3/14

Abstract:

Para-xylene is separated from a mixture of C8 aromatics using a simulated moving bed (SMB) adsorption process, wherein a MOF is used as an adsorbent and an alkane or alkene having 7 or less carbon atoms, such as hexane or heptane is used as desorbent. Because of the difference in boiling points of a hexane or heptane desorbent as compared to conventional desorbents such as toluene or para-diethylbenzene, less energy is required to separate hexane or heptane from C8 aromatics by distillation than the energy required to separate toluene or diethylbenzene from C8 aromatics by distillation.