Patent ID: 9382171
Filing Date: 2016-07-05
CPC Classification: B01J,C07C,Y02P

Claim Text:
1. A process for producing cyclohexylbenzene, the process comprising: (i) contacting benzene and hydrogen in the presence of a hydroalkylation catalyst under hydroalkylation conditions effective to form a hydroalkylation reaction product stream comprising cyclohexylbenzene, cyclohexane, methylcyclopentane, and benzene; (ii) separating at least a portion of the hydroalkylation reaction product stream into a C (iii) contacting at least a portion of the C a) treating a silica-containing support with an iridium compound and an organic compound selected from the group consisting of amino acids and hydroxyalkylamines to form a treated support comprising an organic iridium complex on the support; b) heating the treated support in an oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature of about 400° C. to partially decompose the organic iridium complex on the support and form a partially decomposed organic iridium complex; and c) heating the treated support in a reducing atmosphere at a temperature of about 350° C. to about 500° C. to convert the partially decomposed organic iridium complex into the finely dispersed iridium particles on the silica-containing support; (iv) contacting at least a portion of the first reaction product with a second catalyst comprising at least one support and at least one metal component under conditions effective to produce a second reaction product comprising benzene; (v) separating at least a portion of the second reaction product stream into a benzene recycle stream and a paraffin-rich stream comprising 2-methylpentane and 3-methylpentane; and (vi) recycling at least a portion of the benzene recycle stream to the contacting step (i).