Patent ID: 6215027
Filing Date: 2001-04-10
Classification: B01J,C07C

Abstract:
A method for minimizing a molar flow of an inerting gas effective to prevent combustion, deflagation, or detonation in a headspace of a liquid phase reaction performed in a liquid phase reaction reactor, wherein said liquid phase reaction includes a flammable process liquid and molecular oxygen, said method comprising:introducing to said liquid phase reaction reactor an inerting gas such that a gaseous mixture comprising said inerting gas, a vapor of said flammable process liquid, and said molecular oxygen is formed in said headspace, wherein said inerting gas has a boiling point lower than the flammable process liquid boiling point, and wherein said gaseous mixture has a limiting oxygen value higher than the limiting oxygen value for a corresponding mixture of nitrogen, said flammable process liquid vapor and molecular oxygen; andmaintaining an amount of said inerting gas in the liquid phase reaction reactor to ensure that the headspace remains outside the flammability region.