Patent ID: 7696395
Filing Date: 2010-04-13
Classification: C08C,C08F

Abstract:
1. A method for the production of an isoprene containing rubber compound comprising: (a) supplying steam and an isoamylene containing feedstock to a dehydrogenation reactor; (b) within said dehydrogenation reactor flowing said isoamylene containing feedstock into contact with a catalyst bed comprised of a particulate dehydrogenation catalyst comprising iron and potassium, said catalyst having an average effective pore diameter of at least 550 nanometers; (c) operating said dehydrogenation reactor at a temperature of at least 570° C. under conditions effective to dehydrogenate said isoamylene to produce a dehydrogenation product having an isoprene content of more than 37 wt. %; (d) recovering a product from said dehydrogenation reactor containing isoprene and unreacted isoamylene; (e) polymerizing isoprene in the product recovered from said reactor to produce an isoprene containing rubber product; (f) separating an unreacted feedstream component including isoamylene from said rubber product and recycling said unreacted feedstream component to said dehydrogenation reactor.