Abstract

Straight chain C10 to C13 di-olefins were selectively hydrogenated to increase the mono-olefins content in the feed to alkylation reactor in the process of production of Linear Alkyl Benzene (LAB). The reaction was carried out in a liquid phase up-flow fixed bed reactor at temperature of 448-503 °K and pressure of 1.08-1.96 MPa, which keeps hydrogen dissolved in the hydrocarbon feed. Under the above process conditions the reactor will be virtually two phase (solid-liquid) instead of three phase (solid-liquid-vapour). Kinetics of hydrogenation of straight chain C10 to C13 di-olefins on nickel – alumina (Ni/Al2O3) catalyst was studied in the temperature range of 458-488 °K. The reaction scheme considered includes two consecutive hydrogenation reactions. Various rate models based on the modified Power Law, Horiuti-Polanyi mechanism & proposed by Somers. A.; were derived for the two consecutive hydrogenation reactions and subjected to model discrimination. Parameter estimation was done utilizing the Levenberg-Marquardt Algorithm for global convergence using MATLAB software. Out of the various models tested, rate model based on power law with modification fitted the data well. The estimated rate constants of the best model are thermodynamically sound and statistically consistent.

Recommended Citation

Rajeshwer, D.; Sreenivasa Rao, G.; Krishnamurthy, K.R.; Padmavathi, G.; Subrahmanyam, N.; and Rachh, Jagdish D. (2006) "Kinetics of Liquid - Phase Hydrogenation of Straight Chain C10 to C13 Di-Olefins Over Ni/Al2O3 Catalyst," International Journal of Chemical Reactor Engineering: Vol. 4: A17.
Available at: http://www.bepress.com/ijcre/vol4/A17