Patent ID: 7566429

Claim:
A catalytic reactive separation system for the production of cumene, comprising: a reactive separation column, comprising: a packed, solid-acid catalyst bed having a vertical height greater than about ½ inch, and less than about 2 inches, held in place inside of the column by upper and lower porous supports; a lower zone located below the catalyst bed comprising glass beads; an upper zone located above the catalyst bed comprising glass beads; an open volume located above the upper zone of glass beads; and means for heating or cooling at least part of the column; first injection means for injecting propylene gas into the catalyst bed from outside the column; second injection means for injecting liquid benzene into the catalyst bed from outside the column; means for removing un-reacted liquid benzene, liquid cumene, and other heavy products from the bottom of the column; benzene condenser means for condensing un-reacted benzene vapor that exits from the top of the column; benzene accumulator means for accumulating the condensed benzene vapor; reboiler means for evaporating un-reacted liquid benzene collected from the bottom of the column and returning the evaporated benzene back to the column; cumene receiver means for storing the liquid cumene and other heavy products that exit from the bottom of the column; recycle means for recycling un-reacted liquid benzene from the benzene accumulator means back into the reactive separation column the second injection means; and wherein the first injection means for injecting propylene gas into the catalyst bed and the second injection means for injecting liquid benzene into the catalyst bed are both located at the same vertical height along the column.