Alkylation of Isobutane with Butylenes over a Zeolite Catalyst in a Slurry Bed Reactor

Abstract: The reaction of isobutane alkylation with butylenes in a laboratory slurry bed reactor over REE-Ca-HY zeolite catalyst was investigated. For optimizing the reaction conditions, the main independent reaction parameters were varied: feed (butylenes) space velocity, from 0.1 to 0.6 h, and temperature, from 40 to 90°C. The influence of the stirring speed of 100 to 2500 rpm on the flow motion and catalyst particles distribution in the laboratory reactor was examined using Solidworks Flow Simulation package. It was shown that, at isobutane to butylenes feed molar ratio of 10 : 1 and at feed supply time of 4 h, the optimal parameters are as follows: temperature 60°C, feed (butylenes) space velocity 0.16 h, and stirring speed 250 rpm. Under these conditions the butylenes conversion level is 99%, the alkylate yield, 100%, and the respective selectivities for TMP and DMH, 87.1 and 2.4 wt %. Comparison between the compositions of the alkylates obtained by different routes, including slurry bed reactor, catalytic fixed bed flow reactor, and sulfuric acid-catalyzed alkylation setup, was carried out. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]