Process for generating a mixed multicomponent vapor for preparation of monoalkyl ethers of diphenols

Abstract

A process and a system thereof include apparatuses for developing multi-component vapor mixture by heating of solution of reactants comprising one or more of diphenols, or diphenol derivatives, and an organic compound. Upon reacting in a vapor state in presence of a catalyst with diphenols, or diphenol derivatives, the organic compound produces a monoalkyl ether of a dihydric phenolic compound. The entire solution of reactants completely transforms into a super-heated multi-component vapor using heaters without the use of thin film evaporator. The complete transformation of the entire solution of the reactants in to super-heated multicomponent vapor is achieved by heating the entire solution firstly by a pre-heater followed by further heating by a super-heater. The unevaporated or condensed high boilers and tar are removed to drain. The superheated vapor is subjected to vapor phase reaction mediated by catalyst to get monoalkyl ether of a dihydric phenolic compound.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for developing multi-component vapor mixture by heating of solution of reactants comprising one or more of diphenols, or diphenol derivatives, and an organic compound, wherein the organic compound is one which upon reacting in a vapor state in presence of a catalyst with diphenols, or diphenol derivatives, produces a monoalkyl ether of a dihydric phenolic compound; wherein
 the entire solution of reactants completely transforms into a super-heated multi-component vapor using heaters without the use of thin film evaporator.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  comprising:
 a. a stainless steel reactor under a nitrogen atmosphere for making a solution of a diphenol or a diphenol derivative in the organic compound at room temperature and heating the same to about 50-50-70° C., 
 b. a pre-heater to heat the solution to get vapors and a super-heater to heat the vapors to get super-heated vapors multicomponent mixture from the said solution, 
 c. a jacketed section/vessel for receiving superheated steam at its top and allowing the same from the top end to pass to the vapor phase catalytic reactor and facilitating separation of condensed high boilers and tar that comes out of super-heater with superheated vapors to flow down its length over the inner surface of the jacketed section which is heated by hot oil to a temperature that shall re-evaporate the condensed high boilers, and allowing negligible quantity of high boilers which do not re-evaporate and tars that are formed to be drained out from the outlet at the bottom end, 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a. Multiplicity of tubular reactors arranged in the vapor phase catalytic reactor, the tubular reactors being packed with heterogeneous Aluminum/Phosphorus catalyst capable of catalyzing a reaction in vapor state between the diphenol/diphenol-derivative and the organic compound in vapor phase to produce a monoalkyl ether of a dihydric phenolic compound to produce a monoalkyl ether of a dihydric phenolic compound in the tubular reactors upon heating to 240-300° C. by circulating hot oil & kept under Nitrogen atmosphere throughout the course of the reaction to achieve the above said reaction, 
 b. a receiver to collect cooled and the condensed liquid mass after condensing the reacted vapors, 
 c. disytillaiton apparatus to separate the methanol & water from above mixture for recycling of un-reacted methanol, 
 d. a thin-film evaporator to recover the Guaiacol & Veratrole as a mixture cut was removed from the product mass from the high boiling cut of catechol left in the Thin Film evaporator and recycling the catechol, 
 e. a fractional distillation set for the separation of Guaiacol & Veratrole under Vacuum.