Succinic anhydride from ethylene oxide

Abstract

Continuous flow systems and methods produce succinic anhydride by a double carbonylation of ethylene oxide with carbon monoxide and at least one catalyst. In some embodiments, the double carbonylation occurs using a single catalyst. In other embodiments, a first catalyst is used to promote the first carbonylation, and a second catalyst different from the first catalyst is used to promote the second carbonylation. The succinic anhydride is isolated from the product stream by crystallization and the catalyst is recycled to the reaction stream.

1 - 51 . (canceled) 
     
     
         52 . A succinic anhydride synthesis system comprising:
 a carbon monoxide source;   an ethylene oxide source;   a solvent source;   a catalyst source;   at least one reaction vessel fed with a reaction stream by the carbon monoxide source, the ethylene oxide source, the solvent source, and the catalyst source, the reaction stream comprising carbon monoxide, ethylene oxide, solvent, and catalyst; wherein the catalyst comprises a transition metal carbonyl compound and a Lewis acidic co-catalyst;   a cooling crystallizer fed from the at least one reaction vessel;   a rotary drum filter fed by the cooling crystallizer; and   a solids dryer fed by the rotary drum filter.   
     
     
         53 . The synthesis system of  claim 52 , wherein the reaction vessel comprises a tubular reactor. 
     
     
         54 . The synthesis system of  claim 52 , wherein the reaction vessel comprises a shell and tube adiabatic reactor. 
     
     
         55 . The synthesis system of  claim 52 , wherein the cooling crystallizer comprises a feed cooler and a crystallizer flash drum. 
     
     
         56 . The synthesis system of  claim 52 , wherein the carbon monoxide source comprises:
 a methane source;   a steam reforming unit fed by the methane source;   a hydrogen pressure swing adsorption unit fed by the steam reforming unit;   a carbon monoxide pressure swing adsorption unit fed by the hydrogen pressure swing adsorption unit;   a carbon monoxide compressor fed by the carbon monoxide pressure swing adsorption unit; and   a carbon monoxide dryer fed by the carbon monoxide compressor.   
     
     
         57 . The synthesis system of  claim 52 , wherein the solvent source comprises:
 a solvent offloading pump;   a solvent dryer fed by the solvent offloading pump;   a solvent storage tank fed by the solvent dryer; and   a solvent charge pump fed by the solvent storage tank.   
     
     
         58 . The synthesis system of  claim 52 , wherein the catalyst source comprises a catalyst mix tank and a catalyst charge pump fed by the catalyst mix tank, wherein the solvent charge pump feeds solvent to the catalyst mix tank. 
     
     
         59 . The synthesis system of  claim 52 , wherein the cooling crystallizer is an adiabatic evaporative cooling crystallizer.