PROCESS AND EQUIPMENT TO PRODUCE PHENOL FROM BENZENE

PROCESSUS ET EQUIPEMENT POUR LA PRODUCTION DE PHENOL A PARTIR DE BENZENE

English Abstract

Existing phenol production via the cumene or other processes, are complicated,
multiple staged and
energy consuming, producing ketone by-products. The typical yield is about 5%
per pass by wt. A direct
oxidation process that would eliminate the need for any reagents such as H2,
gases, or Nitrous Oxide is
most sought whereby;
(see above formula)
A recent development for a single stage process uses a Palladium membrane as a
passive catalyst in a
reactor chamber, reporting up 16% yield per pass. However, this process also
generates hexane,
cyclohexane and toluene as by-products in reactor temperatures in the order of
250° C. This one step
process requires O2, & H2 gases and is very temperature sensitive. The volume
of gases introduced into
the reactor are also critical. In addition, the benzene must be delivered in
it's gaseous state. The
process demonstrates that the benzene ring is indeed reactive with an oxygen
ion, but not with the O2
gas molecule. This apparatus was developed by The National Institute of
Advanced Industrial Science and
Technology (AIST) Laboratory for Membrane Chemistry in Japan.

Claims

Claims;
1. An electro-dynamic process that passively oxidizes benzene to form phenol
using nothing more
than distilled water and electricity. There are no exothermic or endothermic
reactions.
2. A process where there are four physical reactions occurring in the
apparatus simultaneously;
Those being;
.cndot. The electrolysis of water to form free oxygen and hydrogen gas with
applied voltage.
.cndot. The ionization of oxygen atoms after liberation from the water in the
magnetic field.
.cndot. The periodic ionization of the benzene molecules across said magnetic
field.
.cndot. The passive oxidation of the benzene mole with a free oxygen ion at
the
surface of a palladium electrode also acting as a catalyst.
3)- A process whose functional embodiments are described on pages 2, 3, 4, 5,
& 6.
4)- A process whose variable functional parameters are;
.cndot. Magnetic Flux Density; 0 - 5,000 Gauss. Variable.
.cndot. Electrolysis Voltage; 10 - 160 VDC, Variable.
.cndot. Benzene Excursion Amplitude across Magnetic Field; 0 - 20 microns
Variable.
.cndot. Transducer Frequency; 0 - 18 kHz. Variable.
5)- A process where the only products are phenol and hydrogen gas.
6)- An anode that acts as both catalyst and a reactive oxygen ion source.
7)- A device whose process attributes are generated with an ultrasonic
transducer, a voltage,
and a static magnetic field.
Page 10

Description

CA 02526151 2005-10-24
Figures: (C.~u Ct S
Pai7es: a 90, "1
TJnsc=able items
receisred with this application
(Request ori7inal docurnents in File Prep. Section on the 10th Floor)
Documents recus avec certe demande ne pouvant ztre bala; es
(Comm-,,nder [es documents ori<nnau-x dans la sec-,ion de preparation des
dossiers au
IOie:ne etaae)

CA 02526151 2005-10-24
Edward Melcarek, C.E.T.
Harry Laur,
Sam Turtle,
Hypothesis:
A two step oxkiaYon proCess is possibie if water is used as the sounce of free
oxygen ions and a
reaction carrier medium.
In general, the proposed two step route in a singie reactor, is thus, without
added catalysts or heat.
~ !-hO ----- H + a-i qmdriLm (mmcb
b
HbfO
Bec~dyds ;
O84V Q Fartictien Fbacdm
at PeMadkrnAnmb
~ 4CH--- O; + O; +21-k0+4e
ReeOgikmQertieralia~
in'Tfa ~#aeN~~elic F9eld
vAh18Wit SorMoetloi
, pqAed
Baras~e Fhad
~
~ C8 h~s + ~ ~ ~
Bam ReeC~gr -
a31-13 *V ksi CB t-t 0-i
Ftedktattiaulmodihe
MeckrriArrods
Rather than trying to make the benzene more reactive with eiectrophiies and
reagents, this method
takes advantage of the benzene's unusuat etebiiity. The cyciic conjugated pi-
bonds a,re enbOtropiC
resonance structures requiring that substitution, not additison, would be the
norm when a neattion does
occur. The substitution in this oxidation pracess is simply an oxygen for a
hydrogen ion. The oondidons
for this reaction to occur requires that the hydrogen pi-bond resonance
structure in the benzene ring be
parttaty ionized without cxampromising the sitobility of the ring.
This can be accomplished with the addftiort of heat, or, as in this apparatus,
with the forced dynamic
periodic excursion of the moiecuie across a static magnetic field, which
allows extreme control of said
ionization.
The oxygen generated by eiectroiysis, Is also forced across the field Nnes,
producing the oxy ion reactive
species at the palladium anodesurface and benzene / water interface.
The advantages;
= All static & dynamic parameters are electronicaly controlled.
= The palladium Anode functioneas both the cataiyst and Oxy ion source.
= No reagents are required other than distilled water and electrical power.
= Room temperature operation, no added heat required.
= Uquid phase process throughout.
= No unwanted process by-products.
= Benzene remains In its' found stable state into the oxidation process.
= Generated Phenol is diffused.kt the water carrier aNowing simple control and
transfer.
= Continuous process can be easily sc:aled for production.
= Hydrogen gas is generated as marketable by-product to offset operating
costs.
Page2of1

CA 02526151 2005-10-24
Edward Melcarek, C.E.T.
Harry Laur,
Sam Turde,
Apparatus;
kft Fbovw
s#Y
o-4D\oc a Vt+c
G~TLbB
li _
I)
E f~ ~
, ...._ ........ ....... ...... _._.
_ ....~.. _. ._....._~.,.._ ._ _._.._ .5--. _. ___......_..._ .... ....#
\
j
Ekcbcd3 1EU* LYARsyb
~ ~ La~i,~fasoLae-
O O 00000
0 0 0 0 "bwmGLnwllbne'Anp
q IODMQ/N407BWt
...:. ................... .-....................................
............................ ......................
~----------------~
~e s1W
-14B -4B\M (
Theory of the Method; The Oxygen Source. [ electrical energyy + 2 H20 -> 02 +
2 H2 j
e~ - +
- - - - - - - --------
Fi2 Qz
H O@
nn, nn
=H+ Q,--
4'
H2o-)
The standard model of water electrolysis;
Page 3 of 1

CA 02526151 2005-10-24
Edward Melcarek, C.E.T.
Harry Laur,
Sam Turde,
eo~oG,
HadedrbwesaFbMdim
vdl,K ~KilgidoFlAd Ird oedeera~nsF~pbTo~
eaWg Aou.AolM Wr,q tominsrioMim
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-- t~ ~ ~........ aCFFER Bwmas
CB F!S ~ ; p R';RTF + O
as m
SUikokn
ini-b Fb..b Puaic,
eccwmcb ; -- cbi-a + o;
+ + ~ ;
ResoV
Qoi S 1O'
i o o,ft cH
Fh" a,
FW43CPUV43C7cbFKtc34
~ c~+ss r
~
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avwecie~ ,
cFv+a~e~a~.~
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/CKISIS FlELD LJNEB
I-CLLCVVFPUJCLM
F TrCf~L~V AC43CE
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cIE+eB FlEõO:lEEc'8u33SweoM
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Paga 4 of 1

CA 02526151 2005-10-24
Edward Meicarek, C.E.T.
Harry laur,
Sam Turtle,
A water electrolyzing potentiai: of 100 Votts and is eppiied through tWro
eteotrodss irnmenaed in the
water coiumn. The palladium anoft eiectrode is hoNow to ailow the benzine to
be infused at the bottom
of the watar ooiumn. The benzwepercOiates up along the wais of the paUadiwn
awft electrode
through the water column where it encounters free oxygen ions generated by the
water electrotysis
process in the twsverse magrretic fieid:
The palladium anode acts as both an eiectroiytic source of oxy Ions and as an
passive catalytic surface
whereupon oxidation takes place.
In the presonce of the magnetic flux, at the surface of the palladium anode,
oxygen gas 02,
molecules are not agowed to form. tnstead, as oxygen. atoms are
eiectroiyticaiiy liberated from the water
molecuie, they are driven across the sWc magnetic field iines by the vibrating
water column, ionizing
them, & thereby prevertting the fom7atton of 02 gas mote$. Free oxy ions are
now free to react with the
partiaiiy ionired benzene mole in the contact with the paiadium surface which
is a catalyst. Ozone also
will not form in the water carrier.
OONDfflONS GENERATED
PER1oDIC DISPLACEMENT AT SURFACE OF PALLADIUM
MAGNITUDE WITH XDCR. AN~DE
F LORENTZ FORCE LAW
F=qvXB
Y x Y X
Q+ 8PECIEB' PRODUCTION PALLADIUM ANODE
z PROPERTIES z
D(*AIN
.,\
'-.
B MAG FLUx j ~. B MAG FLUX
DENSITY I
k~ ~..
ve ~
INDUCED NET CHARGE
IMPARTED TO OXYGEN
l~w NOTE: ANODE ACTS AS BOTH CATALYST
AND REACTlVE SPECIES SOURCE
IN REAL TIME.
Magnetic Flux
Benzene Phenol
/ ' Q+
~ ----- '--- OH
0 Palladium
Cs Hs Catalyst, No Heat Cs Hs OH
t
Transducer Displacement
Page5ofl

CA 02526151 2005-10-24
Edward Meicarek, C.E.T.
Harry Laur,
Sam Turde,
The acoustic excitation is excluded in the cathode region where hydrogen gas
is generated. This
allows it's passage through the static magnetic field **s to the surface of
the water column without any
reaction with the diffused phenol in the water. This is accomplished by
isolating the anode by means of
a simple glasss tube as shown in the. iliuetradons.
The formed phenol diffuses throughout:the water column in the beaker, and
would indeed re-react with
the hydrogen to form water and bemme in a cbsed k~ wiih little or no net
yield.
This re-reaction is prevented by means of aooustic, lensittg which blocks the
acoustic energy in the
cathode ring region and by segregating the anode region with the glass tube.
TRANSDUCER F LORENTZ FORCE LAW
qvxB
DISPLACEMENT F=
REMOVED
IN CATHODE REf310N Y Y
X X
PLATINUM CATHODE
REVERSE REACTION Z PROPERTIES Z
DOMAIN
B MAQ FLUX
DENSITY B MA4 FLUX
+Ve qv
i ZERO NET CHARGE
IMPARTED TO H2 GA8
& PHENOL MOLE
CONDITIONS GENERATED
AT SURFACE OF PLATINUM
CATHODE
Phenol Forbidden Reverse Reaction Benzene
with H2 atPiatinum Cathode.
/ \ 0 H + H , --~ H 20 +
0/
Blocked Sonification in
C6 Hs OH H: Forming region at C6 H6
Platinum Cathode
Thus, the reverse reaction does not occur with the transducer dispiacement
removed in the
cathode region of the reactor glmware. Hydnogert Is freie to ~pass through the
magnetic field to the top
of the water column without reacting with the phenol / water mixture.
The yield is expected to be greater than 50 /a per pass or greater, and will
be a function of the variable
parameters of the apparatus.
There are four variable parameters in this magneto-kinetic apparatus.
Benzene Volume injection rate. [ Hand operated 50 cc Syringe ]
Electrolysis Voitage, (Oxygen volume from the water ) [ Voltage to Anode &
Cathode.]
Magnetic Flux Density. ( Oxy Ion g8neration rate ) [ VoQage to Electro-
magnets.] Displacement
Amplitude across Magnetic Field. [ AC Voltage to Transducer ]
Page6of1

Representative Drawing